By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has begun mobilizing former members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Abbas, who joined the House in 2011 on the CPC platform, said the bloc remains united and ready to work for Tinubu’s re-election, describing their loyalty as “unconditional.”
His spokesperson, Abdullahi Musa Krishi, said the Speaker made the pledge during a meeting with President Tinubu and other ex-CPC leaders at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
“On behalf of all CPC members, I assure you of our unconditional support. More than 90 per cent of those who played active roles in CPC are represented here”, he said.
Abbas assured Tinubu that the group would not only stand with him but also set up a nationwide movement to mobilise grassroots support for his second term.
He explained that this was the first time in years that such a large number of former CPC members had gathered to openly show appreciation to Tinubu. According to him, more than 90 percent of CPC veterans were represented at the meeting.
To strengthen their efforts, Abbas announced the creation of a structure called Former CPC Members for Asiwaju at state, local government, ward, and polling unit levels to drive support from the ground up.
The Speaker also commended Tinubu for playing a key role in the political journey of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, the founder of CPC, and for honouring him after his death.
He further pointed out that CPC’s influence is visible in Tinubu’s government, with several former members now serving as governors, ministers, and lawmakers.The former president also proposed a new process for appointing the chairman of the Independent National Commission (INEC), suggesting the creation of an independent screening and nomination mechanism.
Mr Jonathan said that the credibility of elections rested heavily on the neutrality and competence of the INEC.
He said, “Many questions have continued to be raised on the propriety of the process of appointing the INEC chairman. Many countries in the course of their democratic journey had found the need to reform the process. I believe that Nigeria can also improve the process by establishing an independent screening and nomination mechanism, comprising representatives from the judiciary, civil societies, academia and professional bodies.
“This body would be tasked with vetting and recommending a shortlist of qualified candidates, from which the president may appoint the chairman. This reform will reduce perceptions of bias, promote public trust in INEC and enhance the legitimacy of its decisions.’’
Mr Jonathan also proposed reforms to conclude post-election litigation, especially those relating to the final outcomes of elections, before the swearing-in of elected officials.
He said that the current practice of having candidates with unresolved cases assume office, only to be potentially removed later by courts, creates confusion and undermines governance.
“We must adopt a framework that compels the timely resolution of electoral disputes, possibly with specially designated election tribunals and timelines that align with the electoral calendar. Justice delayed in elections is justice denied, not just for the candidates, but for the electorate,” Mr Jonathan said.
Mr Jonathan, while commending the Abuja school for its deep commitment to driving conversations around democratic development, thought leadership and institutional reforms in the country, called for more patriotism to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“Let us confront our democratic weaknesses with honesty and reform our system with courage. Let us continue to work together to build a Nigeria where elections are credible, leaders are accountable and democracy truly delivers for the people,” Mr Jonathan said.
