Loyalists of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari are now considering a new political path following his death on Sunday, raising concerns within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many of these loyalists were part of Buhari’s political base, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which he founded in 2009. With his passing, a political struggle has begun over who will inherit his support base, estimated at over 12 million Nigerians, especially in the North.
The emerging contest appears to be between the APC and the growing opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has attracted many high-profile defectors in recent months.
Several well-known former CPC members remain in the APC. These include former Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Katsina Governor Dikko Radda, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa, and former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari. Other names include Ibrahim Gobir, Mohammed Tukur, Senator Ahmed Sani, Adamu Adamu, and many others who played active roles in Buhari’s political journey.
However, according to the ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, many of Buhari’s closest political allies have already joined their coalition.
“Most of the Buhari loyalists are already with us,” Abdullahi said. “The majority of them, the entire North is already with our party. We are very confident. The passing of the former President will only cement that for us because that was his wish when he was alive — that his members should join the coalition.”
He added that former ministers and top officials who worked with Buhari, such as Babachir Lawal, Isah Pantami, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and others, are now in senior positions within the ADC coalition.
Abdullahi also accused the Tinubu-led government of sidelining Buhari and disrespecting his legacy while he was still alive. “Why would they remain part of the APC?” he asked. “Is it because they enjoy the humiliation and exclusion they have suffered? Or is it because they’ve watched the government demonise the legacy of Buhari while he was alive?”
He further claimed that President Tinubu’s administration has been blaming Buhari for Nigeria’s economic struggles. “Why would Buhari’s followers continue supporting the APC under such conditions?” he added.
Responding to the growing defections and criticisms, APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, maintained that Buhari’s loyalists are still committed to the party.
“No, they will not support ADC. It’s not possible,” Ibrahim said. “They are people of different ideologies. They are more comfortable with and in APC.”
He admitted that Buhari’s death left a gap but saw it as a moment for reflection within the party. “Yes, political atmosphere will change for our party. But it is not a vacuum that will deform the party. It is a vacuum that will push the party into sobriety,” he said.
Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, recently hinted at a change in the politics of the country.
“With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change. I hope for the better,” he said.
The new opposition coalition under the ADC houses politicians like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai working together to unseat the APC in the 2027 elections.
