Salihu Moh. Lukman, a former top official of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has left the party, claiming it is now ineffective and relies on election rigging to win. In a statement from Kaduna, titled “APC and The Future of Nigerian Democracy: Letter to Selected APC Leaders,” he expressed his concerns about the party and the country’s current state.
Lukman noted that since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office a year ago, the situation in Nigeria has worsened. The party has become disorganized, and the government’s policies have negatively impacted citizens’ incomes and living conditions, making both the APC and its governments increasingly unpopular. He believes that without rigging, the APC cannot win future elections, and there are fears that Tinubu might only serve one term.
Lukman urged Nigerians to focus on building a strong party structure that can hold the President and elected officials accountable. He indicated that internal reform within the APC, as envisioned by its founders, is unlikely under Tinubu’s leadership. Consequently, he has decided to leave the party and collaborate with others dedicated to promoting democracy in Nigeria.
He stressed the importance of making elected representatives accountable to their parties and connecting with the wider interests of Nigerians. Despite his prayers for Tinubu to regain his democratic values, Lukman has lost hope in the current leadership’s ability to achieve significant progress. He called on all patriots and democrats to work towards rescuing Nigerian democracy, comparing the current struggle to past campaigns against military rule and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
