ANPP Bloc Issues Ultimatum to Tinubu Over Marginalisation, Demands VP Slot for 2027 or Exit
ANPP Bloc Issues Ultimatum to Tinubu Over Marginalisation, Demands VP Slot for 2027 or Exit
The former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) bloc, a key legacy faction in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has demanded from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for fair representation in the current administration or it will consider leaving the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, under the umbrella of the Association of Former ANPP Members, made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The bloc expressed grievances over what it described as continued marginalisation by both the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) factions, who, along with the ANPP, merged in 2013 to form the APC.
Reading from a prepared statement, the association’s National Coordinator, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, insisted that the vice-presidential slot in the 2027 election must remain with the ANPP bloc, which it described as the second largest contributor to the APC’s formation.
“The ticket you are serving will be disappointed if you choose another person outside the ANPP bloc as your vice president,” Ajumbe warned, stressing the need for equity and political inclusion.
According to him, the bloc’s latest position was the outcome of a high-level meeting held earlier on Monday. He recalled the original merger terms, in which political offices were equitably distributed based on party strength. At the time, the ACN had six governors and received the interim national chairmanship; the ANPP, with three governors, was given the interim national secretary; and the CPC, with one governor, got the treasurer’s role. Factions of APGA and DPP also received key slots.
Ajumbe lamented that despite this understanding, the ANPP bloc was sidelined during the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a former ANPP presidential candidate himself. He accused Buhari of neglecting the bloc that once helped advance his political career.
“President Buhari wasn’t a well-groomed politician like the incumbent President Tinubu, who understands grassroots politics. We expected appointments and inclusion, but instead, we were relegated,” he said.
He emphasized that the ANPP bloc boasts influential figures in the party and government, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, and several former governors and lawmakers. Yet, the bloc continues to be excluded from major appointments under Tinubu’s administration.
“Since President Tinubu took office, we hoped for a reversal of this trend, but sadly, it has worsened under the so-called Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ajumbe said, calling for the appointment of ANPP members as ministers, ambassadors, board chairmen, and heads of agencies.
The bloc also stated that Tinubu must hand over power to a candidate from the ANPP bloc in 2031, after completing his tenure, to ensure equity among the founding groups of the APC.
“We believe Mr. President may be unaware of the systemic exclusion of our members, which is why we’re bringing it to his attention,” Ajumbe said.
The group warned that failure to address these concerns would force them to explore “greener political pastures.”
“We are making this known now so that when we begin to take steps, no one will say we did not try. We have remained loyal and quiet for too long.”
