Former lawmakers elected under the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have distanced themselves from former Attorney General Abubakar Malami and ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stating unequivocally that neither man has the authority to speak on behalf of the CPC’s legacy.
The group, which include members of the 7th National Assembly, reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he gears up for the 2027 general elections. After a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former legislators affirmed their loyalty to the foundational ideals of the CPC, which later merged into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila, Chairman of the Forum, said the group recognizes Senator Tanko Al-Makura—the only governor elected under the CPC—as their leader and symbolic custodian of the party’s values. Ila dismissed Malami and El-Rufai as politically irrelevant, asserting that they hold no moral or electoral mandate to represent the party’s legacy.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals, groups, and entities who had no electoral value during the heyday of the CPC have falsely claimed to speak for or represent the CPC,” Ila told journalists. “We categorically declare that no one but the elected representatives of 2011 can claim that authority.”
Ila emphasized that the forum represents the authentic voice of the defunct CPC and remains dedicated to upholding the values that resonated with over twelve million Nigerians, mostly in the North, who once supported the party.
With this declaration, the group not only seeks to reclaim the narrative around the CPC’s legacy but also to reinforce a united front behind President Tinubu’s leadership as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
