The Forum of State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives’ Change (CPC) has expressed concern over what it described as increasing marginalization of its members within the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC), despite their pivotal role in the party’s formation and electoral victories.
In a public statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the forum lamented the emergence of multiple voices claiming to represent the CPC bloc, which it said reflected a leadership vacuum and a disturbing lack of unity within the group.
“It is a self-evident reality that members of the defunct CPC, especially former State Chairmen of the legacy party, have not been treated fairly either through government appointments or party apparatus both at the national and state levels,” the statement read.
The forum also criticized the apparent lack of inclusiveness in the leadership of the APC and the government it produced, stating that this exclusion is partly responsible for the internal wrangling currently playing out.
Despite the challenges, the forum declared its continued loyalty to the APC and to former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whose leadership the CPC emerged as a political force before merging with other parties to form the APC in 2013.
“While we do not begrudge those who have decided to quit APC, we wish to state without any ambiguity that, except for a few of us, we are unanimous in our decision to remain in the party with our principal, former President Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement added.
The group pledged its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom it described as the current leader of the party, and called for a more inclusive APC that accommodates all stakeholders.
The forum further urged the President and APC-led governments at all levels to focus on pressing national issues such as insecurity and economic hardship, which they noted have become existential threats to many Nigerians.
“These issues of governance, rather than the 2027 elections, should constitute our priority as we move closer to the second anniversary of the current government,” the forum concluded.
The forum ended the statement with a prayer: “May God guide our leaders right.”
