Farouk Aliyu, a close associate of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has refuted claims suggesting that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intends to leave the ruling party. Identifying himself as a member of Buhari’s inner circle, Aliyu asserted that the CPC faction will not abandon the APC under any circumstances.
“It is not accurate; there is no indication that members of the former CPC wish to exit the APC,” the APC leader stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Wednesday.
“Our CPC certificate was integral to the formation of the APC. Therefore, how could we possibly leave? Where would we go? This is our party,” he emphasized. Aliyu, who previously served as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, also clarified that Buhari did not support former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai’s transition from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He advised El-Rufai not to overreact due to the lack of a ministerial appointment.
Furthermore, Aliyu encouraged the APC leadership to actively engage all factions within the ruling party to mitigate competition and discord ahead of the upcoming elections.
“Politics revolves around engagement and the interests of various groups and individuals. We advocate for increased dialogue, not only with members of the former CPC but also with those from the PDP, to ensure that there is reduced competition in 2027,” the influential figure from Jigawa remarked.
Aliyu asserted that the APC will not passively allow the coalition led by Atiku Abubakar to seize control of the government, describing them as “strange bedfellows.” He added that the selection of a presidential candidate would undermine the Atiku coalition’s efforts.
In 2013, Buhari led the CPC in forming alliances with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), headed by former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to establish the APC, which successfully defeated then-President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election.
