Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, Salihu Lukman, has launched another scathing criticism of the ruling Party, declaring that some monarchies now operate with stronger democratic structures than the APC.
Lukman made the remark while speaking during an interview on Monday, August 10, 2026, as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The former APC chieftain questioned the state of internal democracy within the ruling Party, arguing that key organs of the organisation are no longer functioning in accordance with its constitution.
According to him, the APC’s confidence about retaining power in 2027 is largely influenced by the failure of opposition parties and political groups to organise themselves into a credible force capable of mounting a serious challenge.
Lukman said he initially believed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC were committed to democratic principles when they came to power in 2023. However, he said developments within the Party had changed his assessment.
He argued that the ruling Party had gradually moved away from the democratic ideals that were expected to guide its internal operations.
“I was convinced that President Bola Tinubu and APC were committed democrats in 2023, but now some monarchies are better,” Lukman said.
He further alleged that there was currently no properly functioning democratic structure within the APC.
“There is no structure of democracy that is functioning in the APC,” he added.
Lukman particularly questioned the frequency of meetings of the Party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, which is one of the major organs responsible for making important decisions within the APC.
He said the Party’s constitution provides for NEC meetings at regular intervals but expressed doubt that the organ had been meeting as prescribed.
“Ask yourself, when last you heard the Party meeting? Maybe the NEC may have met about six months ago. Meanwhile, in the constitution of the Party, the NEC is supposed to be meeting every three months,” he said.
The former APC National Vice Chairman also claimed that other organs of the Party were not operating effectively, describing the situation as a major weakness that could affect the Party’s long-term political health.
According to him, the APC would need to return to the principles of internal democracy and allow its structures to function properly if it wants to remain a healthy political organisation.
“If the APC wants to wake up and become functional and start doing the right thing, fine. But for them to wake up, they need to be challenged,” Lukman stated.
His comments come at a time when political parties and opposition groups are positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential election.
The APC, which currently controls the Federal Government under President Tinubu, is expected to defend its position at the next general election, while opposition politicians have been exploring different forms of cooperation aimed at challenging the ruling Party.
Lukman himself has been involved in opposition politics after leaving the APC. He later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of the broader opposition coalition discussions but suspended his membership of the Party in July 2026.
His departure from the ADC followed disagreements involving the political coalition’s activities in Kaduna State. Lukman accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some of his associates of what he described as hostile treatment and political marginalisation.
Before his latest criticism, Lukman had repeatedly raised concerns about the direction of the APC and the state of internal democracy in Nigerian political parties.
In May 2025, for instance, he similarly argued that the APC was moving away from its original progressive identity towards a structure resembling a monarchy. At the time, he criticised the use of automatic adoption of candidates and argued that genuine political parties should allow internal competition and accountability.
Lukman’s latest comments therefore fit into a broader pattern of criticism he has directed at the APC since leaving the Party.
The former APC leader was one of the prominent figures who pushed for stronger internal party structures during his time within the ruling Party. His political disagreements with the organisation eventually led to his resignation as National Vice Chairman (North-West) in July 2023.
He had previously served as Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum before resigning from the position in 2022 amid disagreements concerning the direction of the APC and its internal affairs.
Lukman’s central argument is that political parties cannot function effectively if their constitutional organs are inactive or if major political decisions are concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
He also suggested that the APC’s current confidence ahead of 2027 should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of overwhelming public support.
Rather, he attributed the ruling Party’s perceived advantage partly to what he described as disorganisation among opposition forces.
“Now, they are so confident of victory in this election because the opposition has failed to get its act together to pose a challenge against them,” he said.
The statement highlights the importance of opposition unity as the 2027 election approaches. While several opposition politicians have discussed forming a stronger political platform, disagreements over leadership, party structures, candidate selection and control of political machinery have continued to pose challenges.
Lukman’s own experience with the opposition coalition illustrates some of those difficulties. After becoming involved in the ADC-led coalition, he eventually suspended his membership, citing disagreements over political representation and the handling of affairs in Kaduna.
Despite the internal challenges facing opposition groups, Lukman has maintained that the APC should not assume victory in 2027 simply because it currently controls the Federal Government.
His latest comments also reinforce his long-standing argument that Nigeria needs political parties with functioning internal institutions, regular meetings, transparent decision-making processes and mechanisms for holding elected officials accountable.
The 2027 presidential contest is expected to produce a major political battle involving the APC and an increasingly active opposition. Whether opposition parties can overcome their internal differences and establish a sufficiently strong structure remains one of the major questions surrounding the next election.
For the APC, Lukman’s criticism presents another reminder of the continuing debate over internal democracy, party organisation and the concentration of political power.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the former APC chieftain believes the ruling Party’s apparent strength should not be mistaken for an absence of weaknesses.
His warning is that unless the opposition becomes sufficiently organised to provide a credible alternative, the APC could continue to enjoy a significant political advantage, regardless of the internal democratic concerns he has raised.