CPC BLOCS DIVIDED: Buhari’s Legacy Party Fractures As Chairmen Deny Endorsing Atiku, Reaffirm Loyalty To Tinubu

The long-simmering cracks within the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), once the political base of late President Muhammadu Buhari, have burst into the open as its Forum of State Chairmen has dissociated itself from the recent visit of some members to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

In a strongly worded communiqué issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Forum’s leadership dismissed the Atiku visit as a “personal adventure” that does not reflect the group’s official position. The statement was signed by National Chairman Kasim Mabo, National Secretary Sulaiman Oyaremi, South West Coordinator Olalekan Obolo, South East Coordinator Enyinnaya Nnachi, and the North East and North West Coordinator Ahmad Dawayo.

According to the Forum, only 16 out of 37 members aligned with Atiku, while 20 remain firmly committed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. One member from Borno State was said to have recently passed away.

> “We wish to categorically state that 20 members of the group remain committed to the APC,” the statement read. “The gathering of CPC elements at Atiku’s residence was nothing short of a move to give the former Vice President a misleading impression of widespread support.”

The Forum further alleged that opposition leaders had mounted pressure through financial inducements, leading nine members to defect earlier this year, with seven more following suit last week.

While reaffirming its loyalty to the APC, the Forum warned that continued neglect of the CPC bloc could have long-term political consequences.

“This moment calls for reflection, especially by the presidency and the APC leadership, to urgently address the continued neglect of the CPC bloc, particularly the Forum of State Chairmen who are feeling increasingly alienated,” it stressed.

The development comes amid heightened political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 presidential race. Atiku, who contested the 2023 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been quietly building an opposition coalition, reportedly under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Though yet to declare formally, insiders suggest Atiku may soon pitch his tent with the ADC.

Already, heavyweight figures—such as former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal—are believed to be aligning with Atiku to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The CPC Forum, however, pledged loyalty to prominent leaders of the Buhari-era bloc still in the APC, including Senator Tanko Al-Makura, former Katsina Governor Aminu Masari, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.

> “We remain loyal, patient, but firm in our resolve to demand better patronage, just as we pray that the Almighty God shall continue to guide Mr. President and all our leaders,” the Forum concluded.

With Buhari’s once formidable CPC bloc now torn between Atiku’s overtures and Tinubu’s camp, analysts warn that the battle for 2027 may hinge on who successfully consolidates this fractured but still influential political family.