A recent meeting between former President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stirred speculation about internal tensions within the ruling party, particularly surrounding the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc.
The meeting, which held on Monday in Kaduna, was initially seen as a routine visit. However, reports suggest it was actually a strategic move by the governors to prevent possible mass defections, especially from members of the influential CPC bloc—a faction that played a pivotal role in forming the APC and still commands strong loyalty in the North.
According to Daily Trust, the APC governors are concerned that key CPC loyalists, including several former ministers under Buhari’s administration, are finalising moves to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The CPC bloc is still widely seen as being anchored around Buhari, who retains a strong grassroots following, particularly in northern Nigeria. Governors reportedly fear that should Buhari tacitly or openly support CPC associates leaving APC, it could significantly weaken the party’s electoral chances in 2027.
Despite their appeal, Buhari reportedly declined to intervene, stating that while he remains loyal to the APC, he would not stop others from making their own political choices—a stance he says aligns with his long-standing democratic values.
This development has heightened tensions within APC, as party leaders now worry that a CPC exit could trigger a larger wave of defections and potentially fracture the party ahead of a crucial election cycle.
