Buhari loyalists support Atiku 2027, dumping APC for ADC in Abuja meeting. The defection signals a major political realignment ahead of Nigeria’s next elections
Buhari loyalists support Atiku 2027 in what is shaping up to be a major political realignment ahead of the next general elections, as key figures from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) — once the political base of former President Muhammadu Buhari — officially declared their support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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The dramatic declaration was made during a closed-door meeting at Atiku’s Abuja residence, where state chairmen and top leaders of the CPC bloc gathered to signal their exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They confirmed their readiness to merge into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which Atiku is currently aligning with in his efforts to build a broad national coalition.
One of the CPC bloc leaders stated emphatically, “We are the true followers of Buhari, and we will not allow his legacy to fade into obscurity.
We now believe the ADC, under your leadership, is the right vehicle for Nigeria’s future.”
The group accused the current APC-led administration of betraying the ideals that brought the party to power in 2015, lamenting that Buhari’s original vision had been completely abandoned.
The defection of Buhari’s former foot soldiers not only widens the cracks within APC but also threatens to destabilise its support base in Northern Nigeria, where Buhari’s name still carries immense political weight.
Drawing comparisons between the present leadership and the Buhari era, another CPC figure pointedly said, “Look at the faces in power today—they’re not the ones who built this party.
Malami, El-Rufai, those were true CPC faces. What we see now is not the CPC that merged with ACN to form APC.”
Atiku, visibly pleased with the endorsement, called the move “a step towards restoring political integrity and building an inclusive government.”
“I believe that with your support, we can reshape the country’s political landscape and form a government that reflects the hopes of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
He also called on the group to begin mobilising for voter registration, urging grassroots engagement.
The defection lends considerable momentum to Atiku’s strategy of transforming the ADC into a viable third-force alternative, combining aggrieved blocs from both APC and PDP into a unified electoral force ahead of 2027.
“This is not just a political moment—it is a movement. A people-powered platform like the ADC offers real potential to reset Nigeria’s future,” Atiku told the delegation.
The CPC faction’s exit follows rising disillusionment within APC ranks, as internal rifts, exclusion from appointments, and policy disagreements continue to erode party unity post-Buhari.
This unexpected alliance between Buhari’s loyalists and Atiku could significantly alter Nigeria’s political terrain.
If sustained, it might split the Northern vote and destabilise APC’s long-standing dominance in key battleground states.
Analysts say the meeting represents one of the boldest realignments since the APC’s formation in 2013, and could pave the way for a coalition-driven election in 2027 unlike any Nigeria has seen in recent years.
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As political actors begin to re-strategise, all eyes are now on how APC leadership will respond to this growing rebellion from within its former core — and whether Atiku and ADC can convert these early gains into an electoral upset.
