No Retreat, No Surrender: Why CPC Bloc Stands Firm With Tinubu – Okechukwu Fires Back

Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, has reaffirmed the unwavering loyalty of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Friday, April 18, 2025, Okechukwu dismissed speculations that key CPC figures were planning to defect from the party. He emphasized that the CPC bloc remains committed to the APC—a party they played a pivotal role in forming.

He recounted the arduous journey that led to the APC’s formation in 2013—a merger of various political platforms including the CPC, ACN, ANPP, and a faction of APGA. He described it as a coalition built on shared ideals across ethnic and regional lines.

“We heard the rumours suggesting the CPC bloc is planning to leave the APC. But after our meeting, we resolved there is no need to leave the house we helped build. From 2004 through 2013, we toiled to make this party a reality. It would be politically irresponsible to destroy what we built,” Okechukwu said.

He noted that the bloc’s loyalty to President Tinubu stems not only from shared political history but also from Tinubu’s crucial role in making the merger possible.

“Now that he is president, why should we abandon him? We understand there is hardship in the land, but we believe in his economic reforms—they’ll yield results in time. Besides, all the major presidential contenders had similar agendas, including removing fuel subsidy,” he added.

Okechukwu revealed that the CPC bloc has formed key committees, including a contact team to directly engage with President Tinubu on the economic challenges and a mobilisation unit to reach out to disaffected allies like former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

“We told them—where exactly are you going? Join those who dismantled their own parties? There’s no viable alternative. They don’t even have a different agenda. So we stay, we build, and we support the president,” he concluded.