Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence on Monday to discuss growing concerns about defections from the party.
Led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who also chairs the All Progressives Governors Forum, the group held a closed-door meeting with Buhari.
During the session, they praised the former president’s accomplishments, which they believe provided a strong foundation for the nation’s future.
However, the visit was not just a courtesy call. The governors raised urgent concerns over speculations that some of Buhari’s loyalists were planning to defect from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The governors expressed that such defections, particularly within the influential CPC bloc, could have a devastating impact on the APC as the 2027 elections approach.
A source revealed that the governors appealed to Buhari to persuade key figures like former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Abubakar Malami, SAN, and former Minister of State for Education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba to stay with the APC.
The defections of several loyalists, including former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who allegedly received Buhari’s blessing to leave, have added to the concerns.
The visit comes as several members of Buhari’s former cabinet and APC members in his home state of Katsina are also reportedly planning to switch allegiance to the SDP.
However, Buhari seemed reluctant to get involved in these decisions.
According to insiders, the former president stated that individuals such as Nwajiuba and Malami should be allowed to make their own choices regarding party affiliations.
This response aligns with Buhari’s longstanding belief in allowing political figures to chart their own paths.
The APC is facing significant internal challenges ahead of the 2027 elections, including disagreements over the party’s presidential candidate selection process.
The party’s National Working Committee had opted for indirect primaries in 2022, rejecting a consensus arrangement, which sparked tensions, particularly among members from the CPC bloc.
The possible departure of key figures from the APC could weaken the party’s position, which prompted the urgent appeal from the governors to Buhari.
Yet, his decision to stay out of the matter raises doubts about the party’s stability and its ability to navigate internal disputes in the lead-up to the next election.