In a bold move that signals a deepening political realignment, state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Thursday paid a solidarity visit to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), commiserating with him over the recent attack by political thugs and pledging their total loyalty to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The delegation, coordinated by Hon. Umar Shuaibu, the Niger State chairman of the defunct CPC, described their action as both a message of support and a statement of rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which they accused of betrayal, failure, and abandonment of the principles that guided the 2013 merger. According to the chairmen, the relationship between the CPC bloc and the APC had become abusive, leaving them with no choice but to move to a coalition that values inclusion and justice.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Hon. Umar Shuaibu insisted that Malami remained the true face and rightful leader of the CPC family, not those “fighting for their pockets and dancing with President Tinubu at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.” He emphasized that the CPC bloc could no longer allow its legacy to be erased, adding that a renewed effort to recentralize and strengthen its structures was urgently needed.
Prince Lanre Rufai, the ADC Lagos State chairman, echoed this sentiment with particular force. He recounted his experience as a CPC stalwart in Lagos, where he said the block had been at the receiving end of “the APC headquarters of wickedness.” Despite the sacrifices, resources, and effort CPC members contributed to the merger, he argued, the ACN bloc under Bola Ahmed Tinubu hijacked the party’s structures and completely sidelined the CPC family once power was secured. “The betrayal is total,” he said. “The promises to our people were forgotten, and the values of fairness and inclusion we stood for were cast aside.”
Hon. Umar Shuaibu further praised Malami’s resilience and commitment, urging him to take the lead in rebuilding CPC structures nationwide under the ADC coalition. He stressed that it was time for the CPC bloc to prove its political muscle, not just as a relic of the past but as an active force in reshaping Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Responding, Abubakar Malami thanked the visiting chairmen for their show of solidarity and pledged to stand firmly with them in their renewed journey. He assured the delegation of his readiness to provide the needed support, resources, and leadership to rejig the CPC family and integrate its members fully into the ADC coalition. According to him, this effort would not just preserve the CPC legacy but also contribute to salvaging Nigeria from the clutches of inept leadership, rising poverty, and growing insecurity.
The visit and the declarations made mark a turning point in the evolving opposition landscape, with the CPC bloc formally aligning behind Malami and the ADC coalition as the platform to reclaim their voice and reassert their influence in Nigeria’s political theatre.
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