The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups has slammed the All Progressives Congress APC Governors’ Forum for overstepping its mandate by endorsing President Tinubu for a second term without consulting party members or the electorate.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Confederation’s Director-General, Professor Kailani Muhammad, warned that 2027 “should not be a coronation — it should be a referendum on performance.”
He criticised the governors’ actions as “political overreach” and an “abuse of representative democracy,” accusing them of ignoring the sacrifices of loyal party supporters who worked tirelessly to deliver Tinubu’s 2023 electoral victory.
“We sacrificed time, resources, and even personal safety,” Prof Muhammad said. “To be sidelined now in favour of choreographed endorsements is both unjust and demoralising.”
According to the group, the support structures that championed the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda—including market women, youths, and religious leaders—have been excluded from governance, and many have been left without appointments or recognition.
“Political jobbers who never lifted a finger during the campaign are now occupying sensitive positions,” Muhammad lamented.
He also painted a bleak picture of the Nigerian economy under Tinubu’s administration, citing skyrocketing inflation and the widespread impact of subsidy removal and dollarisation.
The National Bureau of Statistics figures show that inflation reached 33.69% in April 2025, with food inflation exceeding 40%. The World Bank estimates that over four million Nigerians have fallen into poverty since subsidies were scrapped.
“These are not just statistics — they represent empty stomachs, shuttered businesses, and broken homes,” Muhammad stressed.
He warned that the increasing use of dollars in domestic transactions has deepened inequality, eroded the value of the naira, and alienated the average citizen from the formal economy.
The Confederation issued a set of demands, including forming a National APC Support Group Integration and Empowerment Committee to incorporate grassroots campaigners into governance officially.
They also called for a full policy review of fuel subsidy removal and dollarisation, emergency relief for the poor, and consultations at state and local levels before future political endorsements.
“True democracy is practised through dialogue and accountability,” Muhammad said. “The future of this country cannot be decided in closed-door endorsements. It must be decided by the people, for the people, and with the people.”
Despite his sharp criticism, the DG reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the APC and President Tinubu’s leadership, but stressed that loyalty must be “reciprocated.”
“We are not enemies of progress,” he concluded. We are its foundation — and no house stands without a strong foundation.”
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →