By Hamza Musa Makarfi

As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, realignments within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are underway, not with noise but with nuance. Among the blocs making a strategic comeback is the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a party that once bore the hopes of reformists and is now reasserting its stake in the APC’s future.

Leading that charge is Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the lone CPC governor from the party’s brief but impactful history and a key figure in the 2013 merger that birthed the APC. With the endorsement of his former colleagues from the 7th National Assembly, Al-Makura is not just being remembered,he is being reinstalled as the CPC bloc’s authentic leader.

The message is clear: CPC loyalists are not footnotes in APC history,they are foundational blocks. And under Al-Makura’s leadership, they are ready to be counted again.

Al-Makura’s Leadership Reaffirmed

Recently, CPC-era legislators drew a political line in the sand. In a firm declaration, they rejected any alternative claimants to CPC’s legacy,including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami,insisting that Al-Makura, by virtue of his electoral success and ideological fidelity, remains the only fitting face of the bloc. This was not mere nostalgia; it was a calculated reawakening of CPC’s relevance within Nigeria’s ruling party.

Al-Makura’s political value lies not just in history but in strategy. He offers a unifying figure with real grassroots mobilisation and merger-era credibility,a combination of the CPC bloc believes the APC must harness once again.

CPC’s Forgotten Force

For those who forget, the CPC was not born to merge,it was born to challenge with a formidable team. Founded in 2009 by Muhammadu Buhari and others, CPC emerged as a principled alternative to Nigeria’s political mainstream.In 2011, Al-Makura gave CPC its only executive victory by defeating the PDP stronghold in Nasarawa. That victory proved CPC was not just ideological,it was electable.

Yet post-merger, CPC voices were often drowned out by louder blocs like the ACN and nPDP. Over time, the CPC story risked fading into the margins of APC’s dominant narrative. But that is now changing.

With renewed momentum, the bloc is drawing attention not just to its past but to its continued political value,especially in Northern Nigeria, where its message once resonated deeply.

Press Conference: A Statement of Loyalty and Positioning

At a recent press conference in Abuja, former CPC stakeholders, led by Al-Makura, delivered a message that was both firm and forward-looking. “We are here to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals that brought us together in 2013… We remain strong, united, and deeply loyal to the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the group declared.

Dispelling media-fueled speculations of discontent, Al-Makura emphasized that the CPC bloc remains an integral part of the APC and is fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda “We have not left the APC… We are standing tall within the party. We helped to build through sweat, sacrifice, and patriotic commitment,” he said.

Endorsing Tinubu’s Reforms,and Calling for Patience

Al-Makura and the CPC bloc did not just reaffirm party loyalty,they endorsed President Tinubu’s reforms, acknowledging that while the road ahead is tough, it is necessary. “We commend the bold steps taken by President Tinubu and urge Nigerians to trust the process,” they said, calling on citizens to stay the course for the sake of long-term prosperity.

In an important appeal to party cohesion, the bloc also urged aggrieved APC members to seek redress through dialogue and party structures,not defection or discord. “True loyalty is tested not in times of comfort but in times of travail,” Al-Makura said, striking a note of maturity and statesmanship.

CPC is here to stay

This is not just a press statement,it is a political repositioning. The CPC bloc, is amplifying its voice. With Al-Makura at the helm, the group is not seeking a return to the past but a reassertion of its role in shaping what comes next.

As someone who has tracked these movements closely, I believe this moment represents more than internal party politics. It is about legacy, relevance, and the unspoken truth that in the arithmetic of power, no bloc wants to be the forgotten denominator.

The CPC bloc is no longer content to be sidelined. With its leaders, its supporters, and its historical capital, it is now repositioned to be a decisive force as the APC charts its course toward 2027.

And this time, the CPC is not just coming to the table. It’s reminding everyone that it helped build it.

Hamza Musa Makarfi wrote from Lafia.