The Forum of State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) on Saturday distanced itself from the recent visit of some of its members to the Abuja residence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing the move as a personal decision that did not represent the collective position of the group.
The Forum also urged the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to address what it described as the continued marginalisation of the CPC bloc within the party. Atiku, who has renounced his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, is reportedly reaching out to opposition figures as he strategises to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Although he has yet to declare for any political party, indications suggest he may formally join the African Democratic Congress ahead of the polls.
Already, CPC chieftains including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, have aligned with Atiku to work against Tinubu’s re-election. Earlier in the week, Atiku had announced via his social media handles the visit of some ex-CPC state chairmen, stating that he advised them to encourage their supporters to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.
However, in a statement signed by Kasim Mabo (National Chairman), Sulaiman Oyaremi (National Secretary), Olalekan Obolo (South West Coordinator), Enyinnaya Nnachi (South East Coordinator), and Ahmad Dawayo (North East and North West Coordinator), the Forum clarified that only 16 of its 37 members have pledged support to Atiku, while 20 remain committed to President Tinubu.
The Forum claimed that opposition allies had been mounting pressure on its members, offering financial inducements to secure their defection from the APC ahead of 2027. “We wish to categorically state that 20 members of the group remain committed to the All Progressives Congress. We wish to state clearly that for some time now our Forum has been put under intense pressure which includes financial gratification by opposition leaders which accounts for why nine of our members succumbed to their pressure a few months ago and seven others joined them only last week as it appears they could no longer resist the pressure. As we speak however, 20 of us remain unwaivering as we have lost one of our members from Borno State. This moment however 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,” the statement read.
The Forum stressed that the CPC’s grassroots structures, which contributed to the 12.5 million votes achieved under President Muhammadu Buhari, remained critical to the APC’s strength. It described the gathering of CPC elements at Atiku’s residence as an attempt to give the former Vice President a misleading impression of widespread support.
Reaffirming its loyalty, the Forum expressed support for the leadership of the CPC bloc led by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Aminu Masari, and Tajudeen Abbas. “We remain loyal, patient, but firm in our resolve to demand for better patronage just as we pray that the Almighty God shall continue to guide Mr President and indeed all our leaders,” the statement added.
