Governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna on Monday.
The delegation was led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who also chairs the Progressive Governors Forum. The visit included a private meeting between the governors and Buhari.
Speaking after the meeting, Uzodimma said the purpose of the visit was to check on the former president and show appreciation for his role in building the APC. He referred to Buhari as the “father of the APC” and noted that the visit was meant to demonstrate unity and strength within the party, especially at a time of recent defections.
The visit follows a wave of exits from the APC, including that of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and several of Buhari’s former ministers, who have joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai reportedly claimed he received Buhari’s approval before switching parties. In addition, some APC members from Katsina, Buhari’s home state, have also joined the SDP.
Despite these developments, Uzodimma insisted the APC remains united. He explained that the governors’ visit to Buhari, shortly after Ramadan, Lent, and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, was a meaningful way to show continued respect and allegiance to him.
Uzodimma told reporters, “We visited former President Buhari to show him respect. He’s the only former president produced by our party. We found him in good health, spent time with him, and he was pleased with our visit. He remains a father figure to all of us.”
He also stressed the importance of Buhari’s approval and blessings for the party’s activities moving forward, adding that the APC remains strong, boasting 21 state governors and continuing to grow.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, also praised Buhari for his continued support of the APC and President Bola Tinubu, saying the former president’s commitment remains valuable to the party’s leadership and direction.
