The North-Central All Progressives Congress (NC APC) forum has commended the bloc of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by former Nasarawa state governor Tanko Al-Makura, for rejecting the growing coalition of opposition politicians against President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The forum described the CPC bloc’s position as a reaffirmation of loyalty to both Tinubu and the ruling party.
The opposition coalition, reportedly spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna state governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is working to unite anti-APC forces ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, amid growing speculation that the CPC bloc would join the alliance, particularly after El-Rufai claimed he had Buhari’s blessing to leave the APC, Al-Makura and other CPC stalwarts convened at his Abuja residence on Wednesday to distance themselves from the coalition.
The meeting culminated in a press statement signed by Al-Makura, former Katsina State Governor Bello Masari, and 21 others, where they dismissed any defection rumours and emphasized their “unwavering loyalty and solidarity” to the APC and President Tinubu’s administration.
Reacting in a statement on Friday by its Chairman, who was a member of APC 2023 campaign council member, Saleh Zazzaga, the North-Central APC Forum hailed Al-Makura’s leadership, saying it reinforced the region’s unwavering support for the President.
“The North-Central APC Forum salutes the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, for snubbing the opposition coalition being formed against President Bola Tinubu and our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
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“By this singular act, Tanko Al-Makura has shown that he is a committed, loyal party man who believes strongly in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
“He and his team have demonstrated loyalty to the party and to Mr. President, and we wholeheartedly commend them for this exemplary conduct,” the NC APC Forum stated.
The Forum noted that the CPC decision has sent a message to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election, adding that the message, which is loud and clear, is that Nigerians should reject any attempt to derail the reforms and good work being done by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to turn the fortunes of the country around.
The Forum accused opposition figures of being driven by personal interests, noting, “The failed politicians who are championing the coalition against Mr. President do not have anything better to offer Nigerians, they do not even have the interests of Nigerians at heart, they are only aggrieved because they lost the last election, and they are not part of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“Just as the Tanko Al-Makura-led CPC bloc has shown that they are people of integrity and honour by rejecting the coalition, we urge Nigerians to reject the coalition and any other attempt to turn back the progress recorded so far under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
The Forum recalled the North-Central’s pivotal role in the formation of the APC, noting that former Governor Tanko Al-Makura was the only sitting governor from the CPC bloc who actively participated in the merger that birthed the party, a feat unmatched by some other zones.
Despite this contribution, it lamented that the region was marginalized under the Buhari administration, which informed the Forum’s earlier decision not to enter into any political alliance with the North-East and North-West blocs ahead of future elections.
“During Buhari’s government, the North-Central suffered most, we were denied infrastructure, our roads were not attended to, and the high level of insecurity in the region was not addressed. Instead, the North-East and North-West concentrated all the benefits in their zones,” the group recalled.
It, however, pointed out that under President Tinubu, the region has received renewed attention, prompting a reconsideration of its earlier stance and a renewed commitment to deliver six million votes for his reelection and the APC.
“President Tinubu has reversed the marginalization experienced by the North-Central under Buhari, thereby finally giving the zone a sense of belonging and recognizing its strategic contribution to the formation of the ruling party,” Zazzaga noted.
The Forum acknowledged major infrastructural projects, key appointments, and gains recorded in the campaign against insecurity as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment.
Further stressing that the North-Central is solidly behind Tinubu, the APC Forum noted that the zone was the first to endorse the President for another term with a promise to deliver six million votes in 2027.
“With former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura fully on board, the North-Central APC Forum is confident of actualizing the promise to deliver six million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“The North-Central is indeed for the APC and President Bola Tinubu and this is not surprising when one considers the historical role played by the zone in the formation of the APC,” Zazzaga assured in the statement added.