Twenty-one governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recently met with former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, urging him not to abandon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the party that helped him secure the presidency ahead of the 2027 elections.
The meeting took place at Buhari’s newly renovated residence in Kaduna, where the APC governors held a closed-door session with the former president. They appealed to him not to throw his support behind the opposition coalition, which includes figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai, and Peter Obi, among others.
A source revealed that the primary aim of the gathering was for the APC governors to persuade Buhari to back the re-election bid of President Tinubu in 2027. The opposition coalition is gaining traction, and many of Buhari’s former allies are moving towards it, posing a challenge to Tinubu’s ambition for a second term.
It’s important to note that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, one of Buhari’s closest allies, previously disclosed that he received Buhari’s blessing and prayers before defecting from the APC to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). However, after the meeting, the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, spoke with journalists, describing Buhari as a father figure in politics.
“We came to pay former President Muhammadu Buhari a courtesy visit,” Uzodimma said. “You know former President Muhammadu Buhari is the only former president produced by the APC. We came and saw him in good health. We fraternized with him, stayed with him, and are ready to return to our various businesses.”
Uzodimma went on to express gratitude for meeting Buhari in good health, adding, “We met with him, and he was pleased with our party. He expressed surprise at our visit. We are happy and thankful to Almighty God because we met him in good health. He is our father in politics. He is well pleased with our party and all of us, his children. He is well pleased with our visit.”
He also praised the APC, describing it as the largest party in Africa, and reiterated the commitment of its members to continue working towards its growth and strength.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani commended Buhari for his ongoing support for President Tinubu and the APC. “We are here along with other APC governors to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari. We are happy with the way former President Buhari is supporting our party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Sani stated.
During their visit, the APC governors also urged Buhari not to allow the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) faction within the APC to leave the party and join the opposition coalition. The governors appealed to Buhari to continue supporting President Tinubu, reminding him of Tinubu’s unwavering support during his eight years in office.
It was also learned that the governors agreed to facilitate a meeting between the CPC faction and President Tinubu in an effort to address any concerns and maintain unity within the party.
Though El-Rufai had previously stated that he cleared his move to the SDP with Buhari, the former president has since rejected the notion that he would abandon the APC in favor of the SDP.
