The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has sharply criticized former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for challenging the authority of ex-Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura to speak for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the APC. In a statement issued on April 18, 2025, by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the Forum accused Malami of lacking credibility and dragging significant baggage from his tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari, rendering him unfit to represent the CPC bloc.
The dispute stems from Malami’s claim, made through his media aide Muhammed Bello Doka, that only the Buhari-led faction of the CPC bloc can decide on joining an opposition coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. This coalition, which includes figures like former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, aims to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Malami dismissed Al-Makura’s group, which includes former Katsina Governor Bello Masari and ex-Education Minister Adamu Adamu, as unrepresentative, alleging they sought relevance by distancing themselves from Buhari.
The North-Central APC Forum, however, defended Al-Makura’s leadership, emphasizing his pivotal role in the 2013 merger that birthed the APC. As the only CPC governor at the time, Al-Makura was instrumental in uniting the CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and other parties, unlike Malami, who the Forum claims played no significant role. The Forum hailed Al-Makura’s recent rejection of the opposition coalition as a testament to his integrity and loyalty to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, contrasting this with Malami’s alleged disloyalty during the 2023 election, where the APC lost Kebbi State to the PDP (248,088 votes to 285,175).
The Forum’s statement accused Malami of contributing to the failures of Buhari’s administration through “bad advice” and impunity, particularly citing his influence over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They alleged Malami imposed Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC chairman, derailing anti-corruption efforts by compromising high-profile cases. Additionally, the Forum linked Malami to the controversial Naira redesign policy, which caused widespread cash scarcity and hardship. These actions, they argued, have left Nigerians uninterested in Malami’s opinions and skeptical of his motives.
Further, the Forum suggested Malami’s opposition to Tinubu reflects personal grievances after failing to secure influence in the current administration. They noted his rumored alignment with anti-Tinubu forces, despite Malami’s denial of plans to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The Forum asserted that Tinubu’s 2023 victory, despite losing Kebbi, proves he does not need Malami’s support to win in 2027. They urged Nigerians to view Malami’s actions as those of a “self-centered politician” aligned with Atiku and El-Rufai, whose coalition they dismissed as a group of “sore losers.”
The North-Central APC Forum’s robust defense of Al-Makura and condemnation of Malami underscore deepening fractures within the APC as 2027 approaches. While Al-Makura’s group reaffirmed loyalty to Tinubu, Malami’s stance hints at potential defections, signaling a turbulent political landscape ahead.
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