The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has commended a political bloc, composed of members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) led by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, for rejecting the coalition against President Bola Tinubu.

The forum issued a statement on Friday through its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 elections.

The opposition coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, aims to unseat Tinubu and the APC in 2027.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the APC to join the Social Democratic Party, is a prominent member of the coalition. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, is also reportedly part of the group.

Ahead of the 2027 polls, the coalition is mobilising key opposition figures to form an alliance against Tinubu.

The CPC was among the parties that merged to form the APC, with former President Muhammadu Buhari as its leader before the merger.

Speculation had mounted that the CPC bloc within the APC, led by Al-Makura, might join Atiku and El-Rufai’s coalition.

These rumours intensified after El-Rufai claimed to have secured Buhari’s approval before leaving the APC for the SDP.

The speculation further grew after Atiku and El-Rufai, along with other opposition leaders, met Buhari in Kaduna last week.

However, following a meeting at Al-Makura’s Abuja residence on Wednesday, the CPC bloc distanced itself from the coalition and reaffirmed its allegiance to the APC and Tinubu.

“We, the undersigned leaders and dedicated members of the former Congress for Progressives Change, instrumental in the historic merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress, issue this statement to reaffirm our unwavering loyalty to our great party and express our strong solidarity with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the forum said.

“Recent misleading narratives suggesting defection or discontent among CPC stakeholders are baseless, mischievous, and should be disregarded. We remain a vital part of the APC, fully committed to its leadership and vision. We categorically state that we have neither left the APC nor intend to do so.

“The CPC bloc remains one of the APC’s foundational pillars, and we are resolute in our commitment to the party and its progressive ideals.”

The statement was signed by Al-Makura, former Katsina State Governor Bello Masari, and 21 others.

Reacting to the development, the North-Central APC Forum emphasised that by rejecting the opposition coalition,

Al-Makura had demonstrated that the North-Central zone remains solidly behind Tinubu and the APC.

The forum reiterated its confidence in delivering six million votes for Tinubu from the North-Central in the 2027 elections.

“The North-Central APC Forum salutes the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) bloc led by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura for rejecting the opposition coalition being formed against President Bola Tinubu and our great party, the All Progressives Congress,” the forum said.

“By this singular act, Tanko Al-Makura has shown that he is a committed, loyal party man who strongly believes 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 forum added that the CPC bloc’s rejection of the coalition sends a clear message to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election, urging them to reject any attempts to derail the progress made under Tinubu’s administration.