When Buhari was alive he told his CPC members to join new coalition
– Bolaji Abdullahi
ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, has revealed that the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s wish when he was alive was that his CPC members should join the new coalition.
In an interview with The PUNCH, he said several of Buhari’s close allies had already headed such call by joining 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, “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, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola and the rest of them. Those are Buhari people. And their presence in the leadership of the coalition indicates that that’s where Buhari stood.”
Abdullahi added that Buhari’s legacy would be preserved by the coalition, arguing that the APC had alienated and vilified the late president during his lifetime.
“Why would they remain part of the APC?” he asked. “Is it because they enjoy the humiliation and the exclusion they have suffered? Or is it because they’ve watched the government demonise the legacy of Buhari while he was alive?”
He also accused the Tinubu-led administration of scapegoating Buhari for Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
“President Tinubu’s government has blamed Buhari for almost every economic woe. So, why would Buhari followers or loyalists remain with the APC?”
Key figures from the defunct CPC who remain within the APC include former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; Babale Ila, Ibrahim Gobir; Senator Ibrahim Musa; Sanusi Aliyu; Mohammed Tukur; Senator Ahmed Sani; Ibrahim Chachangi; Yusuf Bala; and the party’s current North West National Vice Chairman, Garuba Datti.
Others still in the party are Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda; Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, M.B. Shehu; Chairman of the NDLEA, retired General Buba Marwa; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari; Adamu Farouk; Okoi Obono-Obla; former DG of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu; Senator Ibrahim Musa; and Nasiru Argungu.
Also remaining are former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari; Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule; Adamu Adamu; Senator Mustafa Salihu; Almajiri Geidam; Waziri Bulama; Dr. Nasiru Argungu; Dr. Dominic Alancha; Ayuba Balami; Lucy Ajayi; Captain Bala Jibrin; Uche Ufearoh; Yusuf Salih; and Alkali Ajikolo, among others.
However, party sources told The PUNCH that while many of these figures are actively working for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, not all are expected to stay.
Some aggrieved members, particularly those who feel sidelined since former President Buhari’s exit from power, may eventually defect from the party.
Another member of the ADC coalition and former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West) Salihu Lukman, said Buhari’s death marked the end of an era in which political endorsement from the late President practically guaranteed electoral success.
Speaking on Arise TV, Lukman said, “What we must learn, most especially in the coalition, is that we don’t have somebody with the kind of intimidating profile like that of the late Buhari. Our leaders must have a kind of team spirit.
“It is not about succeeding to defeat APC and Tinubu, but succeeding to produce a new, fresh political template that will begin to meet the expectations of Nigerians.”
He urged politicians to demonstrate humility, honour their promises, and reconnect with citizens.
“I know that many politicians look forward to him raising their hands and endorsing them. That translates almost into victory in many places in the North. Now we don’t have any figure like that. Politicians must relate to citizens with higher humility rather than the current arrogance,” he added.
