Former members of the seventh national assembly elected on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) say Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF), and Nasir el-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna, have no authority to speak on behalf of the legacy party.
The forum announced Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa, as its leader, noting that he was the only state chief executive elected on the platform of the CPC.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Nasiru Ila, chairman of the forum, said members remain committed to the values that birthed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and expressed loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals, groups, and entities who had no electoral value during the heyday of the CPC have falsely claimed to speak for or represent the CPC, purporting to act on behalf of its legacy and its millions of supporters,” Ila said.
“We categorically declare that no person, group of persons, or entity has the authority to speak for or on behalf of the defunct CPC, except the elected representatives of the party who were duly chosen by its supporters in 2011.
“We are the true custodians of the party’s legacy and the representatives of the 12 million Nigerians, predominantly in northern Nigeria, who entrusted us with their mandate.”
Ila reaffirmed members’ loyalty to President Tinubu, adding that they would continue to defend the core values of the APC while ensuring the voices of its supporters are not “exploited or misrepresented”.
He also urged the media, civil society, and the public to verify any claims made under the banner of the CPC, insisting that only members of the seventh assembly and Al-Makura are the legitimate voices of the legacy party.
In attendance at the meeting were Ibrahim Musa, Ibrahim Gobir, Sanusi Aliyu, Mohammed Tukur, Ahmed Sani, Ibrahim Chachangi, Yusuf Bala, and Garuba Datti, the current APC national vice-chairman (north-west).
On April 19, Okoi Obono-Obla, former special adviser on public prosecution to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, dismissed Malami’s claim that the CPC bloc’s declaration of loyalty to Tinubu did not reflect the position of the group.
Obono-Obla said Malami lacks the moral standing to speak for the CPC, having contested an election in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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