Key Points

• Buhari’s men back Atiku in 2027 presidential race.

• Loyalists like Nanono and Nabena attack Tinubu’s APC.

• Atiku gains northern momentum with PDP and defectors.

A group of close friends of Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has backed opposition leader Atiku Abubakar. This has made things even more tense in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 elections approach.

Many of the loyalists are northern power brokers who worked with Buhari for eight years. They say that President Bola Tinubu has ignored their group and hasn’t kept his promises of stability and growth. Their support for Atiku, a long-time politician and former vice president, shows how unhappy the northern caucus of the APC is.

Buhari’s men are turning against Tinubu’s APC

Former Minister of Agriculture Sabo Nanono, former APC spokesman Yekini Nabena, and Buhari’s longtime aide Bashir Ahmad are all speaking out against Tinubu’s handling of the economy at a meeting in Abuja. They said that rising prices, a weaker naira, and the effects of removing subsidies were all signs that the government was out of touch.

According to a report by Vanguard news, Nabena said, “Tinubu has let down the hopes of millions of Nigerians.” “The APC today is not the same party we built under Buhari.” Atiku is a more experienced and trustworthy choice for 2027.

Their involvement shows that the gap is getting bigger: as Tinubu gains support in the South-West, northern leaders who used to be united under Buhari are starting to doubt his power.

Atiku is gaining support from people who support Buhari

Atiku lost to Buhari in 2019 and to Tinubu in 2023. He has stayed in the public eye by talking to traditional rulers, business leaders, and grassroots groups in northern states. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and powerful PDP Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi have also been quietly supporting his moves.

Kawu Baraje, who used to be the national chairman of the PDP, said that Buhari’s loyalists joining forces with Atiku could change the balance in 2027. “These are not fringe voices.” He said, “They are people who helped Buhari’s political success.” “Supporting Atiku means a change in the political landscape.”

The 2027 race could change the APC’s dominance

The events show signs of cracks that could change APC’s dominance, especially in the north where Buhari used to have a lot of support. People who know what’s going on in Kaduna and Kano say that important grassroots leaders are already leaving.

Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, a political scientist at the Centre for Democracy and Development, said that the defections are similar to other splits in Nigeria’s political history. Ibrahim said, “It’s like 2014, when five PDP governors left the party and joined the APC, which led to Buhari’s victory.” “The cycle may be starting over, but this time it’s against the APC.”

As Atiku gains support in the north with Buhari’s men on his side, Tinubu has to work to bring together a party that is already starting to split. People say that the next few months will show whether the APC can stay together or if it will fall apart from within, just like it did when it was rising.