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The Forum of former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has dismissed claims that it has endorsed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Kasim Mabo, and National Secretary, Sulaiman Oyaremi, the group described the reports as “misleading and inaccurate,” insisting that no collective decision was ever made to support Atiku.
According to the forum, only a fraction of its members recently met with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, and that visit was wrongly portrayed as an endorsement.
“The truth is that just 16 out of our 37 members have decided to align themselves with Atiku Abubakar,” the statement clarified.
“The majority, which is 20 members, remain loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and continue to back President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.”
The forum stressed that its official position has not shifted from supporting the ruling APC.
“It is important for Nigerians to understand that the CPC legacy structure is not fragmented. Our commitment to the APC project remains intact,” the group added.
Political observers say the clarification highlights the ongoing battle for political influence among former CPC loyalists, who played a significant role in the 2015 merger that produced the APC.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, analysts believe Atiku’s camp is seeking to woo influential blocs, while Tinubu’s supporters are working to keep them within the ruling party.