APC’s Leadership Crisis: A Betrayal of Nigeria’s Hope

 APC’s Leadership Crisis: A Betrayal of Nigeria’s Hope

By Tijjani Sarki

Advocate for Good Governance and Public Policy Analyst

Zawaciki, Kano | 2nd July, 2025

When the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed Nigeria’s political scene in 2013, it did so not just as a political party but as a symbol of long-awaited redemption. Millions clung to it like a lifeline, desperate for an end to the rot of corruption, impunity, and elite arrogance that had defined the status quo. Nigerians weren’t just voting for a new party they were reaching for a new destiny.

But more than a decade later, what we have is not the promise of progress but the pain of betrayal. The APC, once branded a force for change, has become a haunted house of broken promises, shadowy power grabs, and reckless leadership. Instead of anchoring Nigeria’s democracy, it has become a cautionary tale of what happens when power is pursued for its own sake without principle, vision, or shame.

From Beacon to Blight: APC’s Promise Dismantled

The APC began with fanfare and lofty rhetoric. It spoke of unity across ethnic lines, of clean governance, and of a future bright with possibility. But today, that future lies in ruins. The party that Nigerians once turned to for salvation is now reduced to a pitiful arena of internal warfare,where personal ambition trumps national interest, and leadership is decided not by merit, but by backroom deals and brute force.

This is not just a political crisis. This is a national emergency.

A Trail of Chaos: Chairmen Who Came, Saw, and Left in Smoke

Chief Bisi Akande (2013–2014) gave APC its first breath of life, briefly steadying the ship with grace and focus. But even his wisdom could not inoculate the party from what was to come.

John Odigie-Oyegun (2014–2018) presided over APC’s rise to power in 2015 an achievement quickly tarnished by festering factionalism. Rather than address deepening cracks, the party chose to silence dissent and crush opposition within.

Then came Adams Oshiomhole (2018–2020) a man who promised reform but ruled with an iron fist. His leadership style stifled debate, deepened divisions, and left APC teetering on the brink of implosion. He was ousted not in a spirit of accountability, but as a result of palace coups masquerading as reform.

The appointment of Mai Mala Buni (2020–2022) as caretaker chairman was supposed to be a stopgap. Instead, it became a farce,a drawn-out, opaque, and undemocratic tenure that exposed APC’s disdain for order and rules. Governance by improvisation became the party’s new doctrine.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022–2023) was no savior either. With a controversial past and divided loyalties, his short-lived leadership further exposed APC’s ideological confusion. That he reportedly resigned under pressure speaks volumes about the growing dysfunction at the top.

Senator Abubakar Kyari’s interim stint in 2023 was barely a footnote,a placeholder amid chaos.

Then came Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (2023–2025)a deeply polarizing figure whose appointment reeked of political favoritism. His time at the helm saw record defections, widening internal rifts, and public mistrust. His exit, cloaked in the language of “health reasons,” came amid whispers of mounting pressure and mounting scandal. Under his watch, APC spiraled even further into the abyss.

APC’s Rot: Cronyism Over Credibility

APC’s failure is not a matter of bad luck,it is a direct result of deliberate choices. Time and again, the party has chosen cronyism over competence, fear over freedom, and personality cults over public accountability.

The consequences are not confined to APC headquarters,they ripple across the nation.

Economic agony: With no coherent direction, the economy bleeds. Inflation, joblessness, and poverty rise while clueless leaders squabble over positions.

Security collapse: Insecurity has become a daily horror. From kidnappings to insurgencies, Nigeria is bleeding,while APC leaders are busy jostling for power.

Corruption run amok: When leaders fight only for themselves, anti-corruption becomes a joke. Impunity becomes the new normal.

National despair: What was once a movement for change has become a machine of heartbreak. APC’s slogan now sounds like a cruel joke to struggling Nigerians.

A Nation on Its Knees

This is the emotional reality for millions of Nigerians. Young graduates with dreams now roam the streets hopeless. Families are crushed under the weight of hunger and fear. Parents bury their children in regions gripped by conflict. Entrepreneurs give up as inflation renders their hopes worthless.

And yet, APC leaders carry on,untouched, unbothered, and unmoved.

This is not just political mismanagement. This is moral failure. This is betrayal of the people’s hope.

A Party That Can’t Govern Itself Cannot Govern a Nation

If APC cannot even manage its own internal affairs,if it cannot hold credible conventions, honor democratic principles, or select leaders through open processes then it has no moral or strategic right to lead Africa’s most populous nation.

The rot at the top is not just symbolic,it is systemic. It trickles down into every policy, every failed reform, every broken institution.

Conclusion: Reform or Ruin

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The time for spin, slogans, and shallow promises is over. If the APC wishes to remain relevant,if it hopes to restore even a shred of its credibility,it must confront its demons:

Embrace true internal democracy, not just for show.

End godfatherism and the tyranny of personal interest.

Focus on competence, transparency, and service not survival.

Anything less is unforgivable.

Nigerians deserve better. Nigeria deserves better.

The dream of a just, united, and prosperous nation cannot be built on the back of lies, chaos, and recycled failures. APC must choose reform or become a historical footnote in Nigeria’s long and painful journey toward progress.