“Al-Makura Can’t Speak for CPC Bloc” – Malami

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has dismissed claims by Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s group that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out defection and endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 elections.

Speaking through his media aide, Muhammed Bello Doka, Malami insisted that only the CPC bloc as a collective could determine its political direction, not a group of individuals. He questioned the authority of the Al-Makura-led group to speak for the bloc, noting that several of its members, including Al-Makura, former Education Minister Adamu Adamu, former Katsina Governor Bello Masari, and Faruk Adamu Aliyu, had in the past distanced themselves from former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whose leadership the CPC rose to national prominence.

Malami described their endorsement of Tinubu as a personal decision aimed at gaining political relevance within the APC, rather than a unified CPC stance. He emphasized that their statements should not be mistaken as representative of the CPC bloc’s position.

Addressing rumours of his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Malami dismissed them as baseless speculation. According to his aide, “Malami is a prominent figure in Nigeria and cannot defect to any party in secret. He remains in the APC but is currently engaged in wide-ranging consultations. Until those consultations are concluded, discussions of defection or political ambition are premature.”

Malami reiterated his commitment to active politics and stated that he would publicly announce any decision regarding his political future at the appropriate time. “Malami has the right to belong to any political party and to contest any position in Kebbi State,” his aide added.

This comes in the wake of a communique issued by Al-Makura, Masari, Adamu, and others—over 20 individuals—following a recent meeting where they expressed full support for President Tinubu and reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC. The group, identifying as committed CPC members who were instrumental in the 2013 APC merger, described recent reports of disaffection or planned defection within the bloc as false and misleading.

It should also be recalled that during a recent visit by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje to former President Buhari in Kaduna, Ganduje reportedly sought Buhari’s help in persuading CPC loyalists to remain in the party. Buhari, however, responded that individuals were free to align with any political platform of their choice.