Obono-Obla alleges early CPC plot against President Tinubu

By Kunle Sanni

Okoi Obono-Obla, a former Special Adviser on Public Prosecution under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has alleged that members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc—now critical of President Bola Tinubu—began conspiring against his administration as early as April 2024.

He made the claim on Saturday during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise TV, in response to recent remarks by former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami. Malami had stated that the CPC bloc’s expression of loyalty to President Tinubu did not reflect the group’s collective position.

Obono-Obla argued that Malami lacks the moral authority to speak for the group, citing his earlier political alignment with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the CPC.

“Malami cannot speak for CPC. He came from the PDP and even ran for office in 2007 on their platform,” Obono-Obla said, adding that he was one of the founding members who helped register CPC as a political party in 2008.

Recalling the party’s early history, Obono-Obla said he served as CPC’s national interim legal adviser from 2008 until its first national convention in 2010, after which Malami joined as the national legal adviser in 2011. “He wasn’t there at the start,” he said.

Obono-Obla further claimed that the plot against Tinubu began at what was initially presented as a casual gathering. He said he was invited by former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, to a Sallah dinner on April 28, 2024, in Abuja. However, according to him, the event quickly took on political overtones.

“I went innocently for dinner but soon realised it was a political gathering,” he said. “Malami was there, along with former CPC state chairmen—some of whom we expelled from the party in 2011 for endorsing Goodluck Jonathan.”

According to Obono-Obla, the tone of the meeting shifted as Nwajiuba and Malami began openly criticising the Tinubu administration, despite it being less than a year into its term. He added that attendees expressed frustration with Malami and others for failing to advance CPC interests during their time in government.