The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governors are actively working to prevent former President Muhammadu Buhari and his loyalists from aligning with opposition figures.

Sources within the APC who spoke with Punch have revealed that recent visits to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna were motivated by growing concerns over his perceived stance on the party’s direction.

Naija News reports that an insider at the APC National Secretariat disclosed that the visits by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the party’s governors were not merely ceremonial, as initially claimed.

Although officially framed as a Sallah visit, the true purpose of the trip was to address rising concerns that Buhari’s “body language” was signaling a potential shift away from the party and towards opposition factions.

A source said, “The leaders are concerned that the ex-president has withdrawn and shown limited support for the current government. They observed that opposition figures have taken advantage of Buhari’s openness to create the impression that his spirit and body language are no longer with the APC. That is why the NWC had to visit him to show that he still belongs to the APC and ward off any negative impression among party members, especially from his followers in the North.

“Importantly, the party acknowledges that the North is uncomfortable with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and is clearly planning not to support his second term. The APC leadership decided to dissuade the former president from making himself available to opposition figures who have been visiting him.”

The insider told Punch that the APC leadership had taken “Buhari’s body language more seriously,” noting that they could not afford to let the opposition “hijack” him from them.

He said, “The party leaders have realised that there is fire on the mountain, and they have begun to move closer to Buhari than before. The body language of the former president clearly shows that his spirit is no longer with the APC. They are now taking his actions and inactions more seriously. The leaders are trying to ensure that the APC doesn’t lose Buhari and his followers to the strategic moves of the likes of Atiku.”

Buhari’s Residence Becomes Hub Of Political Activity Amid Defections To SDP

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s residence in Kaduna has become a focal point of political discussions and meetings since the Eid-il-Fitr celebrations, especially after reports emerged that key figures from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the APC and former ministers under his administration were planning to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The defection of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, to the SDP on March 15, 2025, signaled the growing discontent within the ranks of Buhari’s loyalists.

El-Rufai cited a misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the reason for his departure. A vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, El-Rufai revealed that he had sought Buhari’s approval before making the move.

Other prominent Buhari loyalists, including former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, have also been reported to be considering defections, fueling speculation about a shift in allegiances within the party.

In response to the growing defections, APC governors visited Buhari on April 7, 2025, for a closed-door meeting. Sources say the governors pleaded with Buhari to intervene and stop further defections, assuring him that the party would address the concerns of his loyalists.

However, just days later, on April 11, opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), visited Buhari at his residence.

Atiku, speaking to journalists after the visit, clarified that the meeting was a courtesy visit for Sallah greetings, denying any connection to opposition coalition talks.

“We came here on courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to President Muhammadu Buhari,” Atiku said. When asked about the possibility of forming a major opposition party, Atiku confirmed that discussions were ongoing but emphasized that the visit was not related to coalition-building efforts.

“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of this visit,” he stated.

El-Rufai also downplayed any political undertones of the visit, advising “adversaries” not to lose sleep over it. Despite these reassurances, the visit stirred political speculation, with many wondering about its long-term impact on Buhari’s alignment.

APC NWC Responds To Opposition Leaders’ Visit

In a quick response, the APC National Working Committee (NWC), led by party Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, arrived at Buhari’s residence just hours after the opposition leaders left. Ganduje dismissed concerns about the opposition leaders’ visit, describing it as an attempt to “repeat history.”

He said, “What they are trying to build is not viable. Some particles simply cannot come together. We are not worried at all.”

Ganduje explained that the APC delegation’s purpose was to update Buhari on the party’s progress since his exit from office and to reaffirm their commitment to upholding his legacy.

“We came to brief him on our progress and to reaffirm our commitment to his legacy,” Ganduje added.

While all political figures involved in the visits downplayed the political significance, the gatherings underscore the ongoing efforts by both the ruling APC and opposition leaders to secure Buhari’s support.

His influence in the North remains a powerful asset, with many seeing it as critical to any party’s success in future elections.

Despite the growing political tensions, Buhari has maintained that he remains loyal to the APC, stating that he will always be grateful to the party for providing him with the platform to serve as a two-term president.

“I remain with the APC, and I will forever appreciate the party for giving me the opportunity to serve as president for two terms,” Buhari reaffirmed.

Visitations About 2027 Elections

Sources close to former president Atiku told Sunday PUNCH that the visits were related to the 2027 general elections.

“It’s all about the 2027 general election, particularly the presidency. The visit was geared towards coalition building, not a merger,” one of the sources said.

Another source added, “The visit is to poach Buhari’s loyalists from the APC bloc. These are forces to reckon with since Tinubu has abandoned them, and they know that Buhari cannot help anyone in the 2027 elections. The only option is for Atiku to poach loyalists of the former president from the CPC bloc.”

Atiku had on March 20 announced the formation of a Coalition of Opposition Political Parties to oust President Tinubu in 2027, amid growing resentment against the president in the North.

“Many northerners are unhappy with the current government, except those in the government. A lot is being done to remove Tinubu in 2027,” a political leader in Kaduna State said.

Punch gathered that Atiku and other northerners were intensifying efforts to gain Buhari’s support through his loyalists in the former CPC, now part of the APC.

Why APC, Anti-Tinubu Politicians Want Buhari’s Support – Associate

But Mohammed Lawal, a long-time political associate of Buhari, said the ex-president could not stop his loyalists from leaving the APC if they wanted to.

Lawal, who was the deputy director of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council in 2015, noted that although Buhari had declared his position not to leave the APC, he would respect his loyalists’ decisions.

He said, “The party (APC) gave him the chance to be president for two terms, so separating him from that party is not going to be easy; but there is a limit to which he can force his loyalists to work for the APC.

“For example, if President Buhari decides to support the coalition, I’m sure you will see that in the 90 per cent of his people that are in the coalition, and what is he going to do? Is it to fight against the 90 per cent? So, that is what you are seeing now; everybody is struggling to reach him.

“But there is a limit to what he can do and if 80 or 90 per cent of his people decide to leave, he has to decide.”

Lawal, however, queried the appointments of President Tinubu and the economic hardship in the country.

He said, “It has never been done the way it is (being) done; every administration that has come use to incline a little bit towards its own people either being ethnicity, religion, but this one actually it’s too much according to what you are hearing and what you are seeing within the country.”

On Buhari’s relevance, the associate said, “Buhari is still a big interest within the political circle in the North; how many former heads of states do we have that went through the political rigmarole to become president in the North? I don’t think there is anyone behind Buhari now. Babangida was Head of State with his military background, so also General Abudulsallam; Shagari is gone. So naturally, politicians in the North, even those that are outside APC will look towards Buhari for political direction and advice, so do not be surprised if you see Buhari’s residence in Kaduna being turned into a political Mecca of some sort. I’m not surprised; Buhari is going to continue to be more relevant, especially as 2027 is going to be very tough politically for this country.”

Lawal also noted that opposition figures sought Buhari’s support far ahead because they recognized his electoral value.

He said the ex-president would take the right decision no matter what anyone said about him.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unmoved by the opposition’s plan to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the governor asserted that Nigerians will decide the fate of the APC during the 2027 polls.

Uzodimma, who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, argued that Nigeria is practising partisan democracy, and not coalition democracy.

He stated that the ruling party is alert and they would not allow any individual take power from their hands.

He said, “What is a coalition? We are practising partisan democracy, not coalition democracy. Partisan democracy requires belonging to a political party to contest elections. When your party is no longer viable and you seek political oxygen, you must first leave the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before discussing alliances.

“I began by stating that you don’t change a winning team. We have seen where we were, where we are now, and where we are headed. Ultimately, Nigerians will decide our fate but that decision is years away. As a government, we still have over two years remaining in our term.

“If you focus on winning the next election when Nigerians entrusted you with a four-year mandate and you’ve barely completed two years, that becomes a distraction. This government remains focused. The APC is alert, and we won’t let anyone take what is in our hands. We are not asleep.

“I began by stating that you don’t change a winning team. We have seen where we were, where we are now, and where we are headed. Ultimately, Nigerians will decide our fate but that decision is years away. As a government, we still have over two years remaining in our term.

“If you focus on winning the next election when Nigerians entrusted you with a four-year mandate and you’ve barely completed two years, that becomes a distraction. This government remains focused. The APC is alert, and we won’t let anyone take what is in our hands. We are not asleep.

“The APC is the ruling party, and one does not change a winning team. When a player is winning, they keep playing. While we welcome new ideas and collaboration, since no one, not even the president, can solve national problems alone, it is through unity that Nigeria grows safer and stronger. For me, the APC is a formidable party, and we are committed to progress. From 2020 to 2025, 79% of my former opponents in Imo have joined the APC. A party is nothing without its people, and today, the majority in Imo are APC members.”

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered that confidential information about Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, related to a purported federal investigation in the 1990s, be made public.

The order, issued on Tuesday by Judge Beryl Howell, demands that top U.S. law enforcement agencies release documents related to their investigation of Tinubu.

The decision follows a lawsuit filed in June 2023 by American citizen Aaron Greenspan under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Greenspan had sued multiple U.S. agencies, including the FBI, CIA, IRS, DEA, and the U.S. State Department, accusing them of failing to release documents concerning the investigation into Tinubu’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking during the 1990s.

According to Premium Times, Greenspan’s suit stemmed from FOIA requests he filed between 2022 and 2023, seeking information about a joint investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS, DEA, and U.S. Attorneys in Northern Indiana and Northern Illinois. He specifically requested criminal records related to four individuals allegedly associated with a heroin trafficking ring, including Bola Tinubu, Abiodun Agbele, Lee Andrew Edwards, and Mueez Abegboyega Akande.

In response, the agencies issued “Glomar” responses, refusing to confirm or deny the existence of the requested documents. Greenspan challenged these responses, claiming that the information was public and should not be withheld under FOIA exemptions.

Judge Howell’s ruling partially favored Greenspan, stating that the “Glomar” responses issued by the FBI and DEA were improper. The judge noted that the claim of protecting this information from public disclosure was “neither logical nor plausible” given that the investigation into Tinubu was already acknowledged by both agencies.

The judge emphasized that FOIA requests can challenge agencies’ assertions that confirming or denying the existence of records would result in harm, and that the FBI and DEA had effectively waived their right to withhold certain information. Howell pointed out that both agencies had previously acknowledged the investigation into Tinubu and Agbele, including confirmation that the FBI and DEA investigated Tinubu’s alleged links to drug trafficking.

In contrast, the CIA was not required to release its documents, as the court found that Greenspan had failed to show that the CIA had ever officially acknowledged the existence or nonexistence of the records related to his FOIA request.

The case revolves around a 1993 incident where Tinubu allegedly forfeited $460,000 to the U.S. government after it was linked to proceeds from narcotics trafficking. This issue had previously featured in legal challenges to Tinubu’s candidacy during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, with his opponents questioning his eligibility based on this matter. However, the Presidential Election Petition Court dismissed the challenges, affirming Tinubu’s eligibility.

Court documents filed by Greenspan included an affidavit detailing an investigation into Agbele’s involvement in a heroin trafficking ring, which allegedly involved Tinubu’s funds. The affidavit revealed that Agbele, who was arrested during a DEA operation, had cooperated with authorities and provided information linking Tinubu to the drug trade. Further investigation led to the identification of bank accounts controlled by Tinubu, which were suspected of being involved in money laundering related to the trafficking operation.

Judge Howell’s ruling allows for the release of documents related to Tinubu and Agbele, but with the CIA’s Glomar response upheld for now. The court has ordered the relevant U.S. agencies to file a report by May 2 on the status of any remaining issues in the case.

Veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) has shared his opinion about polygamy, advocating for its legitimacy.

In a recent appearance on ‘Curiosity Made Me Ask‘ hosted by Isbae U, Richard Mofe-Damijo revealed he believes it’s unfair for a man to be married to only one wife.

According to RMD, his father married five wives.

“I don’t have idea of how many women want me. I feel it’s unfair to be married to one woman”, She stated.

Furthermore, he opened up about his educational background, revealing that he studied Theatre and Media Arts at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and earned two law degrees from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).