CPC Split Widens As Tinubu, Atiku Battle For 2027 Support
By MELVIN KOFFA
THE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), once the political backbone of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is in turmoil as the 2027 presidential race gathers momentum.
Once a solid bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC), CPC loyalists are now sharply divided between supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and backing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest again.
The cracks became visible after separate meetings in Abuja and Kaduna exposed the rift. Some CPC stalwarts argue Tinubu, as sitting president, deserves full support from the party structure, while others believe Atiku remains the North’s best chance to regain influence and unseat Tinubu.
“This is tearing us apart,” a CPC chieftain from Kano admitted. “Some of us think President Tinubu hasn’t done enough to merit our backing, while others insist we must stand with him as APC leader.”
The split marks the first major fracture in the CPC bloc since Buhari left power in 2023. Analysts warn it could undermine APC’s hold in the North, where CPC has historically commanded millions of votes, especially in states like Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, and parts of the Northeast.
Already, key figures are picking sides. CPC politicians in government are leaning towards Tinubu, stressing party loyalty, while former lawmakers and Buhari-era appointees are quietly aligning with Atiku. Both camps are lobbying hard, with Tinubu offering appointments to CPC elders and Atiku positioning himself as a consistent, better-prepared alternative.
Meanwhile, Buhari’s silence looms large. Many grassroots CPC supporters say they will only follow his signal when the time comes, leaving both Tinubu and Atiku anxiously waiting for the former president’s eventual stance.
Observers say the stakes are high: if CPC fragments, APC risks losing its strongest northern backbone in 2027. But if either Tinubu or Atiku secures the bloc’s loyalty, it could prove decisive in Nigeria’s next presidential contest.
For now, CPC stands at a crossroads—caught between continuity with Tinubu and a possible shift back to Atiku.
