The death of former President Muhammadu Buhari has set off a political storm within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as loyalists of the late Nigerian leader—many of whom trace their roots to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)—consider a dramatic exit ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speculation has intensified that the CPC bloc, the political machinery Buhari built in 2009, may finally abandon the APC, following years of growing discontent and marginalization under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
Since Tinubu’s emergence as president in 2023, key figures within the CPC fold—such as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal—have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of the administration, with some outright rejecting Tinubu’s rumored bid for a second term.
With Buhari’s cult-like political following—estimated at over 12 million voters—left politically orphaned, the scramble for control of his legacy has begun in earnest.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a prime destination for Buhari’s political orphans. In an interview with The PUNCH, ADC interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed that a significant number of Buhari’s allies have already defected to their party, forming a powerful Northern bloc within its ranks.
“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, “As you can see, there is a strong representation of CPC and Buhari loyalists in the senior ranks of the coalition — the likes of Babachir Lawal, Abubakar Malami, Isah Pantami, Emeka Nwajuba.”
The development comes on the heels of a solemn warning from former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who cautioned that Buhari’s death will inevitably reshape Nigeria’s political terrain.
“That shows the magnitude of what has befallen Nigeria,” Abdulsalami said. “With the passing away of Buhari, politics in Nigeria will certainly change — I hope for the better.”
As tensions brew between the APC and ADC over who inherits Buhari’s towering political legacy, the ruling party now faces a delicate balancing act—risking an exodus from its Northern stronghold if urgent reconciliation is not pursued.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the defection of Buhari’s loyalists—many of whom still command grassroots support in Northern Nigeria—could tip the scale in favor of a new political alignment, dramatically reshaping the nation’s power map.
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