Cynthia Ezegwu
The Association of Former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Members has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and inclusivity in the All Progressives Congress (APC) by ceding the 2031 presidency to the ANPP bloc.
The group made the appeal on Monday at a press conference in Abuja, following a leadership meeting at Agura Hotel. They alleged that since the APC’s formation in 2013, members of the ANPP bloc have been marginalized in federal appointments and political influence, while the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) blocs dominated key positions.
Addressing journalists, the association’s National Chairman, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, said it would be “unfair” if the ANPP bloc is excluded from the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure. “Since the formation of APC, the CPC bloc has ruled for eight years under the late President Buhari. The ACN bloc is currently occupying the presidency. Fairness and equity demand that our President should hand over power to the ANPP bloc when his tenure expires in 2031,” he said.
The former ANPP members also demanded greater inclusion in the Tinubu administration, calling for appointments as ministers, ambassadors, board chairmen, and heads of government agencies. They maintained that the position of Vice President “remains sacrosanct for the ANPP bloc,” citing the bloc’s historical contribution to the formation of the APC.
Despite their grievances, the association pledged full support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, vowing to mobilize structures across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and organize a mega rally in Abuja. They also formally endorsed Tinubu’s policies and programmes.
READ ALSO: Benue APC Chairman Urges Residents to Back Alia’s Re-Election
Prominent figures at the meeting included Senators Aliyu Sani and Dahiru El-Katazu, Chief Igaga Ogbonna, Hon. Shuayb Kano, and Prince Adebola Ogunleye, among others.
Reacting to the demand, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbo, urged the ANPP members to be patient. “There are five major blocs that formed the APC. The ANPP was one of them. I understand their demand, but it is too early to start putting it forward. The focus now is the 2027 election,” she said.
Similarly, APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, described the timing of the demand as premature, emphasizing that post-2027 succession plans are yet to be negotiated.
The ANPP, a major opposition party in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, merged with the ACN, CPC, APGA, and breakaway nPDP in 2013 to form the APC. While the CPC bloc produced former President Muhammadu Buhari and the ACN bloc produced Tinubu, ANPP members argue that they have been largely excluded from political power and federal appointments since the merger.