APC Facing Internal Crisis from Opposition Defections
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has issued a stark warning about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) facing potential collapse due to the ongoing wave of defections from opposition parties. The former Senate Leader expressed his concerns during a major political event in Abuja, comparing the situation to an overloaded ship heading for disaster.
The Borno South representative made these startling comments while receiving the Most Outstanding Legislator and Advocate of National Unity award at the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture. The event took place on Sunday night at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja, where his frank assessment drew audible reactions from the audience.
Empty Cargo Threatening APC Stability
In his acceptance speech, Ndume didn't mince words when characterizing the defectors joining the ruling party. He dismissed many as political lightweights who bring little value to APC, insisting that the party is becoming overloaded with what he termed mostly empty cargo.
The senator used powerful maritime imagery to drive home his point. I have warned that the APC is becoming overloaded. And when you overload a ship, especially with mostly empty cargo, it risks capsizing, he declared to the gathered dignitaries.
Recent investigations confirm that the defection wave has intensified dramatically over the past year, leaving opposition parties severely weakened. The Guardian verified that no fewer than five governors have abandoned their parties for APC, including chief executives from Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu, and Taraba states. The defection of Plateau State governor is also anticipated imminently.
Democracy Under Siege
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has joined the chorus of concern, describing the mass defections as a coordinated assault on Nigeria's democratization process. The organization argues this trend represents a calculated attack on political pluralism and constitutes a betrayal of voters' mandates.
Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED, addressed these issues during a press conference on the State of the Nation. He expressed serious concerns about allegations that financial inducements are influencing some defections, suggesting this indicates complicity rather than neutrality in the political process.
Zikirullahi emphasized that democracy cannot thrive where corruption becomes normalized. He also raised alarms about the silence of National Assembly leadership regarding reports that lawmakers must pay between one million and three million naira to present motions or bills in the legislative chamber.
The human rights organization further highlighted Senator Ndume's recent claim that aides in the Presidential Villa demand bribes before granting access to President Tinubu. According to CHRICED, this revelation deepens concerns about transparency at the highest levels of government and represents another threat to Nigeria's democratic foundations.
As the 2027 elections approach, these developments signal a shrinking political opposition and growing concerns about the health of Nigeria's democracy. The warnings from both a senior legislator and a prominent civic organization suggest that the current political realignments may have serious consequences for the nation's governance structure.
