The resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has provoked intense reactions within Nigeria’s ruling party, July 23, 2025.
Adamu Garba, an influential APC chieftain, angrily claims that this upheaval has laid the party bare, rendering it vulnerable to attacks by a growing opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), July 23.
Garba portrayed the ADC coalition as opportunistic vultures eager to exploit APC’s internal crisis.
He expressed his dismay during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Insisting the ruling party must “be very serious” in facing these menacing threats.
“They Hope for Our Loss” – A Nation Betrayed?
Garba’s remarks carried a bleak warning: “They hope for our loss, and that is why we need to be serious.”
He stressed that APC requires sincere, truthful leadership one that listens to criticism rather than surrounding itself with sycophantic yes-men.
Critically, he accused President Bola Tinubu’s inner circle of misleading him about Nigeria’s real state of affairs and the party’s true standing.
“There are a lot of sycophants around the president; people are telling him that things are okay, but they are not.”
Such claims reveal dangerous fractures within Nigeria’s ruling elite.
Exposing a leadership veiled in denial and flattery while the country’s political fabric frays.
Decline of APC’s Northern Stronghold
Garba pointed to the significant erosion of APC’s popularity in northern Nigeria after former President Muhammadu Buhari left office in 2023.
“APC had only 5.5 million votes in the north in the 2023 elections.
Where were the 12 million votes that used to back us?” he implored.
He acknowledged that Buhari’s absence has caused natural political tension and waning influence for the party.
The once formidable northern base is now in flux, courting instability as APC struggles to “re-engineer” its strategies in a post-Buhari era.
Internal Party Crisis: A House Divided
Ganduje’s resignation, confirmed by APC’s National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka on June 28, 2025, was officially attributed to urgent personal matters.
Yet, insiders and political watchers suggest a far more contentious backdrop power struggles.
Dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s leadership style, and the squeezing out of northern heavyweights.
The resignation letter, addressed to the party’s National Working Committee, expressed Ganduje’s gratitude to President Tinubu but did not hide the fissures developing behind closed doors.
Following Ganduje’s exit, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori was installed as acting chairman, pending the National Executive Committee meeting.
Power Dynamics and Southern Oligarchy
Further controversy stems from allegations that a southern elite cabal has tightened its grip on APC power structures.
The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum recently criticized how northern leaders like Ganduje have been sidelined.
With the President’s access tightly controlled by unelected aides and political cronies.
Garba’s assertions echo these sentiments, intensifying accusations that Tinubu’s administration is governed more by the indulgences of loyalists and flatterers than by inclusive national leadership.
This pattern threatens to derail the APC’s purported vision of unity and progress.
ADC Coalition: Predators Circling the Ruling Party
The African Democratic Congress has emerged as a vocal coalition opposed to APC’s dominance.
Garba’s vivid metaphor of this alliance as “vultures” captures the fierce opposition waiting to capitalize on APC’s weaknesses.
The coalition reportedly unites disgruntled political forces determined to challenge the ruling party’s control in upcoming elections.
Garba’s warnings serve as a call for APC to unite.
But also to purge elements that propagate misinformation within its leadership ranks if it hopes to withstand the intensifying threat from opposition forces.
A Party Losing Its Grip on Power?
The rapid unraveling within APC suggests a party struggling to maintain relevance and cohesion.
Internal conflicts, leadership vacuums, and growing disillusionment among northern supporters strain the party’s dominance.
The tactical genius that once ensured victory appears diminished, replaced by factionalism and distrust.
Garba’s candid outburst is not merely criticism; it reveals an urgent cry for reform.
Without honest self-assessment and leadership willing to confront uncomfortable truths, APC’s future looks bleak.
What Lies Ahead for APC and Nigeria?
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the stakes could not be higher.
The APC’s ability to unify and show credible leadership will determine whether the party survives the storm or collapses under pressure from the ADC coalition and other opposition forces.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian public watches as political elites bicker and backstab behind closed doors.
The people’s trust wanes amid reports of leadership failing to address real challenges like insecurity, economic stagnation, and governance deficits.
Garba’s Call to APC: Rebuild or Perish
Adamu Garba’s blunt message to APC resonates deeply.
The party must embrace truthful leadership, reject sycophancy, and confront opposition threats head-on.
Failure to do so may hasten its political demise.
This moment calls for reflection and bold action within APC.
Beyond the usual political rhetoric, what Nigerians need is a party capable of honest dialogue, internal reforms, and responsive governance.
Anything less will only embolden the ADC coalition and other critics eyeing the party’s weakening foundations.
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