For Abuja Network News
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has firmly rejected appeals from governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging him to intervene and stop his loyalists from exiting the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, which took place on Monday, April 8, at Buhari’s Kaduna residence, was led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. Though presented publicly as a routine Sallah homage, insiders have revealed that the visit carried an urgent political undertone: to plead with the former president to use his influence to stop high-profile defections to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The governors, sources say, are increasingly alarmed by the exodus of Buhari’s allies—many of whom trace their political roots to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)—from the APC to the SDP. The defection of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who claimed he had Buhari’s blessing, has triggered a wave of uncertainty, with fears that more key figures could follow suit.
Specifically, the governors pleaded with Buhari to speak with former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and former Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, both of whom are believed to be perfecting plans to jump ship.
However, Buhari, true to his longstanding principle of political non-interference, declined to act. According to a source privy to the closed-door discussion, Buhari maintained that political affiliations are a matter of personal choice and that it would be inconsistent with his democratic beliefs to dictate the direction of others.
“Baba made it clear that he cannot compel anyone to stay in a party,” the source revealed. “He said those who wish to leave should be free to do so, as that has always been his position, even while in office.”
This stance, while consistent with Buhari’s reserved political style, has sparked further anxiety within the APC. With the former president declining to rein in his loyalists, party stakeholders fear that the CPC bloc—a foundational structure within the APC—could collapse, thereby weakening the ruling party’s influence ahead of 2027.
In Katsina State, Buhari’s home base, reports already indicate a quiet but steady defection of APC members to the SDP. Similar movements are being recorded in Abuja and parts of the North-West, raising red flags for APC strategists.
Observers note that Buhari’s distancing may also reflect his waning interest in intra-party politics and a desire to maintain a statesmanlike image. Nonetheless, the consequences of his neutrality could be dire for the APC, especially at a time when the party is grappling with internal divisions, unresolved grievances from the last presidential primaries, and a growing perception of exclusion among former CPC members.
The party’s leadership had hoped that Buhari’s intervention would serve as a rallying call to unify the ranks. Instead, his non-committal position now leaves the APC navigating a precarious path, with uncertainty looming over its strength and cohesion ahead of the next election cycle.
As more defections loom and the SDP gains ground, political watchers are asking: has the silent withdrawal of Buhari signaled the beginning of a slow political unraveling within the APC?