Abbas: CPC bloc will lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says members of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) will be at the forefront of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027.

Abbas spoke when members of The Buhari Organisation (TBO) and former members of the CPC, led by Tanko Almakura, ex-governor of Nasarawa, visited Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

In 2013, the CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abbas assured Tinubu of the unconditional support of the former CPC members, noting that they are pleased with his administration.

“Indeed, today is the very first day that the former members of CPC gathered in large numbers to visit our president to show support and appreciation for what he has been doing,” Abbas said.

“I want to seize this opportunity, Mr president, to assure you of the unconditional support of all former members of the CPC.

“More than 90 percent of those who were active during the time of CPC are present.”

Abbas said all former CPC members will mobilise grassroots support for the president across their states.

“And that movement will also be cascaded to local areas, in all the wards, units in all our states,” he said.

“We will continue to gather support for you and your administration, and in 2027, Insha Allah, CPC members will be at the forefront of your support and ensure you come back to continue the good work you are doing in this country.

“We also want to express our appreciation for the kind of representation and respect you are giving members of CPC in this government.

“This is the first time, your excellency, that we have three governors serving under this administration who were all CPC extraction.

“Today, we have three members, so many members of the house of representatives, so many chief executives who are in this government, and we believe that many of them were able to make it because of your support.”

Al-Makura said the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who founded the defunct party, shared more than political alliance with Tinubu.

“You were united by purpose and vision, not by political assemblage. Together, you conceptualised and built a foundation that makes the renewed hope agenda, which is a pragmatic, scientific, and rewarding vision,” he said.

“This is not just a slogan but a blueprint for national restoration. We believe that will be our focus and commitment to ensuring the success of our party and our ultimate victory come 2027.”

He assured the president of the group’s “unwavering support” ahead of the 2027 election.

Tinubu thanked the group, noting that part of what he inherited from Buhari was his honesty, transparency and justice.

“You won’t have anything less than that. You will have joy at the end of this journey, and we will definitely put something together to build a Buhari House that will be a house of joy and prosperity.”

In May, the CPC bloc dismissed reports suggesting it exited the APC.

The group also distanced itself from a faction led by Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, and Abubakar Malami, the former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.