APC Gradually Sliding Into Monarchy — Salihu Lukman Laments

A former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman has lamented that the ruling party is sliding into monarchy.

According to him, this is not the ideals of founding fathers of the party.

He lamented that the party is on a path towards a structure that resembles centralised control.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Friday, Lukman decried that internal contests had been abandoned in favour of automatic adoptions.

The former APC chieftain, while reflecting on his role in the formation of the APC, expressed displeasure in the party’s current direction, claiming it had drifted from its founding ideals.

“The APC has moved from a party envisioned to be progressive to almost a monarchy. As it is now, the APC mantra is that there will be no internal contest in 2027 — the President is adopted. All their governors are adopted. Legislators are also adopted,” he said.

According to him, none of the political parties in Nigeria function as real parties in the classical sense, adding that political organisations that do not uphold their constitutions or hold regular internal meetings cannot be considered true parties.

“Any party whose elected representatives are not accountable is not a party in the classical sense,” he said.

The ex-APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest), however, disclosed that negotiations for a new opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections were in their final stages.

Lukman stated further that discussions had been ongoing for over a year to establish a viable platform capable of challenging the current political status quo.

According to Lukman, the coalition aims to contest the 2027 general elections by either forming a new political party or transforming an existing one.

Speaking on the rationale behind the coalition effort, Lukman explained that the main crisis facing Nigeria’s democracy was the absence of genuine political parties.

He, however, noted that efforts are now focused on negotiating with an existing party to transform it structurally and ideologically.

The ex-APC chieftain explained that conditions set by the coalition include a complete leadership overhaul, constitutional reforms, and a new internal culture where candidates emerge through transparent contests.