By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s 2027 race is already taking shape as President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar battle for control of the late Muhammadu Buhari’s northern political bloc.
Buhari’s loyalists, once the backbone of his defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), recently pledged allegiance to Atiku under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). At a meeting in Abuja, the CPC faction declared itself the “true followers of Buhari” and vowed to preserve his political legacy.
Atiku welcomed them warmly, urging mobilisation ahead of voter registration. He cast the defection as part of a broader struggle to protect Buhari’s ideals, warning that endorsements must translate into votes.
The move is a direct challenge to Tinubu, whose visit to Kaduna at the weekend — where he attended a wedding and paid homage to Buhari’s widow, Aisha — was widely seen as a symbolic attempt to reassert his hold on the Buhari bloc.
At stake is not only Buhari’s memory but also the grassroots loyalty and electoral strength that shaped northern politics for over a decade. If Atiku converts symbolism into structure, the APC risks losing its northern fortress. If Tinubu holds the line, he could cement himself as Buhari’s true heir.
The battle for Buhari’s political soul has begun — and its outcome may redraw Nigeria’s 2027 electoral map.
