Crack in APC As Buhari States His Position on His Loyalists Dumping Tinubu
- Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly expressed indifference about his loyalists dumping the President Bola Tinubu-led APC
- Reports had it that the APC governors who visited the former president were seeking his intervention to stop the CPC bloc from dumping the party
- It was also stated that the CPC remained the largest bloc, with ruling party governors fearing that their defection would doom the APC
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Kaduna - More details have emerged concerning the meeting between the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and former President Muhammadu Buhari at the latter's residence in Kaduna state on Monday, April 7.
Imo state Governor Hope Uzodimma, who also doubles as the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, reportedly led a closed-door meeting with the former president, where they commended Buhari for his achievements.
Source: Twitter
APC governors visit Buhari
Vanguard reported that the APC governors noted that the achievements of former President Buhari had laid the foundation for future developments of the country.
It was also learnt that aside from the Sallah visit to the former president, the governors also pleaded with the statesman to interfere and stop his loyalists from dumping the President Bola Tinubu-led APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
A source who was privy to the meeting, but spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the governors were worried about the speculation of the planned defection of some party chieftains ahead of the 2027 general election.
This is because the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was the biggest bloc in the APC, and former President Buhari was the rallying point for these politicians.
Why APC governors want Buhari's loyalists to stay
According to the source, the governors were of the view that if the CPC bloc dumped the APC, the ruling party was doomed.
The meeting came amid the defection of some Buhari loyalists from the APC to the SDP.
Source: Twitter
The source further stated that the governors particularly asked the former president to speak to the former Justice Minister and attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami and the former minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, to remain within the APC.
However, the source explained that ex-President Buhari appeared to have distanced himself from the controversies, stating that individuals like Nwajiuba and others should decide which party to associate with and that he could not interfere with their decisions.
He said this has remained his political trait over time. Buhari's position has been said to have sparked speculations about the potential defection that would rock the ruling party and the implications for the APC in the future.
What Buhari told APC governors - Garba Shehu
Meanwhile, Buhari's spokesman, Garba Shehu, has released a statement detailing what the former president said during the APC governors' visit.
Shehu said Buhari called on members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) to adopt a citizen-centric approach to leadership, emphasising that balancing challenges and opportunities is key to advancing national progress.
Legit.ng gathers that Buhari expressed confidence in their efforts and reiterated the importance of prioritising the welfare of the people. He cited his own example of leaving office with the same assets he had before his presidency.
Buhari also thanked President Tinubu’s administration for renovating his Kaduna home, highlighting improvements made inside the building while maintaining its external appearance.
PGF Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, praised Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and the APC, recalling his pivotal role in the party’s formation and his affirmation of the APC as his party of choice.
Uzodinma acknowledged Buhari’s legacy, citing his leadership on security, economic recovery, and anti-corruption, and emphasized the ongoing renewal of the APC under Tinubu’s leadership.
Buhari never backed Tinubu - Analyst alleges
Public affairs analyst, Barrister Oladotun Hassan, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of never truly supporting President Bola Tinubu, warning that the current political climate could lead to dangerous ethnic-driven realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
"It’s high time we call a spade a spade. Buhari ab initio never supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become the president of the country.” Hassan told Legit.ng.
"That was one of what necessitated Tinubu’s anger at Abeokuta where he declared 'Emi Lokan.' He mentioned categorically that he never begged Buhari for minister or any sort of favour."
Hassan pointed to the early signs of division within the ruling party, adding that Tinubu himself acknowledged inheriting a broken system.
"That, to many, was seen when Asiwaju came on board and he declared that he met a ‘caca’ — i.e., the Buhari government wrecked the government."
Buhari preferred Atiku as his successor, Hassan claims
He further alleged that Buhari discreetly preferred Atiku Abubakar as his successor.
"Buhari had ab-initio wanted Atiku to succeed him. No one should be deceived that we are one when it comes to the issue of politics."
Warning of a potentially divisive future, Hassan described Nigerian politics as deeply fractured along ethnic lines.
"The prelude to 2027, we have seen it coming. It might be a decider of ethnic revolutionary politics. It is more or less ‘O ye tenth Israel,’ let everybody support their own ethnic interest. It is a cursor to dislocation."
Addressing Buhari’s leadership style, Hassan said:
"He had an absolutist manner of rulership. And that on its own caused the nation's monumental economic downturn."
He criticised CPC loyalists contemplating defection, calling it a betrayal after enjoying political power under Buhari’s presidency.
"Having enjoyed eight years of un-interruption, the majority of them have had opportunities in this government, and a lot of them are still in government,across board... to me, I call it more of a traitor."
Recalling the formation of the APC, he said:
"When Tinubu led some stewards from the PDP, new PDP, the CPC... the first beneficiary of that amalgamation was Buhari, and that was the North."
He concluded with a strong warning against reviving old political rivalries.
"Enough of those old wounds not to be reopened... It will be disastrous if the old political demigods are still thinking of handing over this kind of baton of hatred, hopelessness, and disregard to truth.”
El-Rufai missing at APC NEC meeting
Legit.ng also reported that as the All Progressives Congress convenes its highly anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was missing.
An inside source who attended the meeting also refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu was planning to remove the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, from his current role within the ruling party.
Nurudeen Lawal, Head of the Politics and Current Affairs Desk, contributed former President Buhari's statement on his meeting with APC governors to this report.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a public affairs analyst for this report.
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Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Google's Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop. He previously worked as an Editor with OperaNews. Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023) by Legit.ng. Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng
Barrister Oladotun Hassan (Public Affairs analyst) Barrister Oladotun Hassan, a Public Affairs analyst, is the secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Epe Branch. He is also the executive project director of Lawyers for Reform Group. Barrister Hassan is a member of the Section for Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee. He is the president of the Nigerian Youths Coalition, secretary general of Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, and president of the Yoruba Council Worldwide.
