State governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have made a passionate appeal to former President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to intervene and dissuade his loyalists from defecting from the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made during a closed-door meeting held at Buhari’s Kaduna residence on Monday, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who doubles as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.
While the visit was officially described as a Sallah homage, insiders reveal that the real agenda was to persuade Buhari to prevail on his associates, particularly former ministers, not to abandon the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Sources disclosed to Vanguard that the governors are deeply concerned about ongoing defections from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc, which formed the backbone of Buhari’s political rise and now constitutes a key wing within the APC.
Already, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has dumped the APC, reportedly with Buhari’s blessing. Others, including former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, are said to be finalizing plans to jump ship.
The CPC bloc, having merged with ACN and other parties in 2013 to form the APC, remains a critical base. APC governors now fear that if the bloc disintegrates, the party’s chances in 2027 may be severely weakened.
Responding to the appeal, Buhari reiterated his commitment to the APC but maintained that he would not interfere in others’ political choices.
“People like Nwajiuba and Malami have the right to make their own political decisions,” a source quoted Buhari as saying. “That has always been my principle — to respect individual freedoms.”
This neutral stance has raised eyebrows within APC circles, with some interpreting it as tacit approval of the ongoing defections.
The meeting comes at a time when the APC is struggling to maintain cohesion amid internal squabbles over its structure and candidate selection process. In 2022, the decision to adopt indirect primaries over consensus candidacy reportedly alienated members of the CPC faction, further straining the party’s unity.
With speculation swirling and key figures preparing to jump ship, APC governors are racing against time to stabilize the party and prevent a political implosion.
Whether Buhari’s hands-off approach will calm the storm or accelerate the party’s fracture remains to be seen.
