Buhari loyalists back Atiku in a major political realignment, shaking Tinubu’s grip on the north and reshaping Nigeria’s 2027 power contest
Buhari loyalists back Atiku in a move that has thrown Nigeria’s political landscape into fresh uncertainty ahead of 2027.
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Once quiet realignments have burst into bold declarations. Long-standing alliances are now being redrawn — and none more dramatically than the shift of key northern figures once loyal to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
This past week, a group of former state chairmen of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari’s original political base, pledged allegiance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The meeting, held behind closed doors at Atiku’s Abuja residence, was anything but routine. It was a game-changing political statement.
The Buhari loyalists backing Atiku have sparked speculation over the future of the All Progressives Congress (APC), currently led by President Bola Tinubu.
“We are the true followers of Buhari… The CPC bloc is intact. President Muhammadu Buhari has left an unprecedented mark, and we will not allow it to be lost.”
This was more than nostalgic homage. It was a clear rejection of the APC’s current direction, and a direct challenge to Tinubu’s hold on the northern electorate.
Atiku, now positioning himself as a guardian of Buhari’s grassroots legacy, welcomed the CPC leaders warmly.
“This meeting represents a continuation of your journey and your struggles… I believe with your support, we will translate this journey into success,” he said.
He urged the group to mobilise voters and move from symbolic gestures to structured campaigns, warning that only ground-level mobilisation can convert legacy into leadership.
Meanwhile, Tinubu was in Kaduna over the weekend, attending the wedding of the son of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari and visiting the Buhari family home.
While presented as a gesture of respect, the visit was widely interpreted as a calculated effort to reclaim fragments of Buhari’s northern stronghold.
Standing in Buhari’s home, addressing his family, Tinubu sent a message — that he, not Atiku, is the rightful heir to Buhari’s political machine.
But symbols alone may not be enough. With Buhari’s former allies openly shifting ground, the battle for legacy is now firmly underway.
This contest is no longer about personalities alone — it’s about the memory and meaning of Buhari’s leadership, and who will inherit the loyalty of millions who still revere his name.
For Atiku, securing the CPC bloc’s backing offers emotional capital and grassroots depth.
For Tinubu, the challenge lies in holding together a fractured coalition in the face of growing northern discontent.
The voter registration battle now becomes critical. Atiku’s ADC coalition is pushing hard, hoping to convert support into numbers.
Tinubu’s camp, meanwhile, faces pressure to demonstrate it still commands the north’s allegiance.
This realignment marks perhaps the most significant internal political shift since the founding of the APC.
If the Buhari loyalists backing Atiku succeed in transferring grassroots power, Tinubu could face severe challenges in traditionally strong northern states.
And if symbols give way to structure, Nigeria’s political centre of gravity may shift — not through slogans or soundbites, but through voter cards and coalition strength.
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One thing is certain: the race to 2027 is no longer theoretical. It has begun in earnest.
