Former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has revealed the reasons behind his resignation from the ruling party, accusing the leadership of sidelining stakeholders and turning the party into a tool for executive control.
In an explosive interview with Punch, Lukman expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of internal democracy in the APC, particularly under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
‘Agreements Were Ignored, Party Hijacked’
Lukman, who previously played a key role in the removal of former APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, said his fight was never personal but about ensuring that internal agreements were respected.
“But God knows I didn’t disagree with them on personal grounds. I disagreed with their leadership style because agreements within the party were being ignored and abandoned,” he said.
He further criticized the process that led to the appointment of Abdullahi Ganduje as the new APC National Chairman, stating that stakeholders from the North-West were sidelined.
‘Tinubu Runs APC Like a Monarchy’
According to Lukman, APC under Tinubu has become an echo chamber, where party leaders prioritize pleasing the president rather than upholding democratic principles.
“Instead, what I see is a full-swing move to almost operate like a monarchy. Everybody around us was seeking to impress the president and see nothing wrong in his actions,” he lamented.
Lukman also raised concerns over Ganduje’s leadership credentials, questioning his ability to run the party effectively. “In terms of knowledge of running party administration, I didn’t see him as competent, other than the fact that he was a former governor,” he said.
‘No Consultation, No Debate’
Lukman criticized the lack of consultation before Ganduje’s appointment, accusing the president of handpicking him without input from key party members.
“No, I challenge anybody to come out and say we were consulted. Nobody was consulted. Tinubu single-handedly picked Ganduje,” he said, adding that leaders from the North-Central, including Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, failed to challenge the decision.
‘I Had No Choice But to Leave’
Lukman admitted that his continued presence in the APC had become meaningless as he was increasingly isolated for being outspoken.
“Having made my name, I am not a product of godfather politics. I have no godfather. But I couldn’t take the risk of waiting for a decision to be taken to leave the party leadership,” he said.
Despite his exit, Lukman reaffirmed his commitment to political reforms, stating that his decision was driven by principle rather than personal gain.
“My membership had become useless because the party was unwilling to engage with my concerns,” he concluded.
His resignation adds to the growing dissent within the APC, raising questions about the party’s future unity ahead of the next political cycle.
