Mr. Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, has challenged the authority of a faction led by Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to declare support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid on behalf of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Malami, who spoke through his media aide, Muhammed Bello Doka, said the CPC bloc, which was former President Muhammadu Buhari’s platform, said the bloc was the only entity that could speak on whether or not it was leaving the APC and not Al-Makura’s group.
“When you say CPC bloc, one needs to know who they are referring to. Is it the likes of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Adamu Adamu, Masari and Faruku Adamu Aliyu who, a few months ago had been throwing Buhari under the bus, in desperate attempts to gain relevance that should decide for the bloc? Malami asked.
Speaking further, he dismissed the endorsement made by the Al-Makura group as a personal political maneuver, detached from the collective will of the CPC bloc, aimed at maintaining influence within the ruling party.
While addressing speculations about his possible defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Malami described the reports as unfounded.
“Malami is a prominent figure in Nigeria, therefore, cannot defect to any party in secret, he is still in APC but in a broad consultations with different platforms. Until the consultations are over, it is premature to talk about defection or declaration of interest.”
He reiterated his engagement in politics, stating that any definitive announcement on his next move would come at the appropriate time.
“Malami has right to belong to any political party and to contest any position in Kebbi State,” his aide added.
Meanwhile, the rebuttal follows a communiqué issued after a meeting by prominent former CPC members including Al-Makura, ex-Katsina governor Bello Masari, and former Education Minister Adamu Adamu. In the statement, they pledged continued support for President Tinubu and the APC-led administration.
“We, the undersigned leaders and committed members of the former CPC, who were part of those instrumental in the historic merger that gave birth to the APC, hereby issue this statement to clarify our unalloyed loyalty to our great party and express firm solidarity with the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Recent misleading narrative suggesting a defection or disaffection among CPC stakeholders are false, misleading and should be ignored. We remain integral to the APC and are fully aligned with its leadership.”
