The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has declared that the region will not join any coalition involving the North-East and North-West ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speculations have been rife that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are planning an alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
These speculations intensified following their criticisms of the Tinubu administration at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, held in Abuja on January 27, 2025.
Speaking at the event, El-Rufai urged opposition parties to unite in forming a broad coalition against the APC.
However, in a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, the North-Central APC Forum, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, dismissed the possibility of the zone participating in such a coalition.
North-Central’s Past Role and Marginalization
The Forum cited past experiences, particularly its key role in the formation of the APC and the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, as reasons for its decision.
Recalling the 2013 merger of opposition parties that led to the birth of the APC, the statement noted that North-Central contributed a sitting governor—Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State—while other regions, including the North-West, had little direct representation in the coalition.
Despite this contribution, the Forum lamented that the North-Central was sidelined during Buhari’s administration, particularly in political appointments, infrastructural development, and security interventions.
“The North-Central brought a sitting governor into the coalition, yet, after becoming President, Buhari ignored our region’s contributions.
We were denied key leadership positions, infrastructure was neglected, and insecurity in the region worsened.
Instead, the North-East and North-West took all the benefits,” the statement read.
The Forum criticized Buhari’s administration for denying the North-Central the Speakership position in 2019 and removing Senate President Bukola Saraki from Kwara State after his first term, replacing him with Ahmed Lawan from Yobe State.
Rejection of Planned Coalition
Dismissing the reported opposition alliance as self-serving, the North-Central APC Forum stated that politicians like Atiku and El-Rufai were only acting in their personal interests.
“Whatever Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai are planning is for their own benefit, not even in the interest of the North-East and North-West,” the statement declared.
It further described opposition figures criticizing Tinubu as “frustrated individuals” who would have supported the administration if they had been given government positions.
Expressing confidence in Tinubu’s reelection bid, the Forum stated, “No political alliance or coalition can stop Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
Nigerians will once again choose the APC because of the President’s good performance.”
Reaffirming its stance, the Forum concluded, “The North-Central will not be part of any coalition with the North-East and North-West.
This planned alliance is being driven by politicians from these zones, and we refuse to be dragged into it.”
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