Ex-CPC state chairmen meet Atiku, pledge support for ADC coalition

Ahead of the 2027 elections, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday hosted former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at his residence in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

In 2013, the CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, since the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the CPC’s founder, in July, there has been speculation that some members of the now-defunct party are drifting away from the APC.

Earlier on Wednesday, a group in the CPC bloc, including Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, and Tanko Almakura, ex-governor of Nasarawa, visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, promising to lead his re-election campaign in 2027.

During the sit-down with Abubakar, the ex-CPC state chairmen described themselves as “true followers” of Buhari, pledging to support the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition led by Abubakar.

Responding, Abubakar expressed confidence that the ADC would win the 2027 presidential election with the support of the former CPC members.

“This is a continuation of your journey and struggles, and I believe with your support, we will be able to translate this journey into success,” he said.

“Not only that. We will also form a government that will have a kind of impact that President Buhari would have loved to see.”

In a post on X, Abubakar said the former CPC members “expressed their support for the mission to rescue our country from the stranglehold of the incumbent incompetent APC-led administration”.

“They particularly expressed their worry about how the Tinubu-led administration has grossly derailed from the ideals of concern for the ordinary Nigerians, which they reckoned was the abiding principle of the initial APC administration,” Abubakar wrote.

“I took time to explain how current efforts to create a coalition platform began. I also gave them the pledge that the coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is a people-powered political platform.

“I especially encouraged them to mobilise their supporters for the ongoing voter registration exercise.”

Abubakar said he relished the “warm and frank conversation” with the politicians, adding that he looks forward to a “robust partnership that will not just oust the incumbent anti-people government but restore genuine hope to the people”.(The Cable)