APC Unfit To Govern Nigeria, NDC declares

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfit to continue governing Nigeria beyond 2027, citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and what it described as a growing disconnect between the government and the people.

The party made the declaration in Abuja yesterday during the inauguration of its 23-member National Reconciliation Committee, chaired by renowned political economist, Prof. Patrick Utomi, with elder statesman and politician, Alhaji Buba Galadima, serving as co-chairman.

Speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, said the committee was established to heal divisions within the party following its primary elections and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that although the NDC was barely six months old, it had made significant progress nationwide but also faced enormous organisational challenges associated with the conduct of its primaries.

According to him, the party recorded intense contests in several states, including the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where as many as 23 aspirants contested for a single position, resulting in disputes, multiple claims of victory and appeals.

Zuwoghe said the party painstakingly reviewed all petitions before forwarding the names of its authentic candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We do not encourage our members to leave the party because of disagreements. We cannot afford to be disorganised. That is why we have constituted this reconciliation committee to bring every aggrieved member together so that we can move forward as one united family,” he said.

The NDC chairman said Nigeria was in a critical condition under the APC administration, arguing that the country had witnessed a steady decline in security, economic stability and public confidence.

“Nigeria is in a state of comatose, and even those pretending otherwise know the truth. Insecurity has spread across the country, while the economy continues to deteriorate.

“If you are safe in your home today, what about millions of Nigerians who cannot sleep with both eyes closed because of insecurity? What if your own child were among those trapped in such situations?

“The incompetent and uncaring attitude of leaders entrusted with power is unacceptable. That is not the Nigeria we desire. We must unite as one force and make the necessary sacrifices to dislodge the APC because the party is unfit to continue governing Nigeria in 2027,” he declared.

Zuwoghe urged members to support the reconciliation committee and close ranks ahead of the next general election.

He described the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s vice presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as the standard-bearers of the coalition’s mission to rescue Nigeria.

According to him, the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket represents the hope of millions of Nigerians seeking competent, inclusive and people-oriented leadership.

While alleging that the APC would rely on its control of government institutions and resources during the 2027 elections, he expressed confidence that the opposition coalition enjoyed overwhelming support across the country..

“They may have governors and control state resources, but Nigerians are behind us. We have the numbers and the determination to bring about democratic change,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Utomi said the committee’s responsibility went beyond resolving disputes, stressing that it was aimed at rebuilding trust, strengthening internal democracy and promoting inclusiveness within the party.

“Our assignment is not merely to settle disputes. It is to rebuild confidence, rejig the party and ensure that every member feels valued and included.

“Leadership does not diminish the value of any member. We must build an all-inclusive political movement capable of restoring hope to Nigerians,” he said.

Utomi called on aggrieved members to embrace dialogue and consensus, assuring them that the committee would engage all stakeholders and recommend both administrative and political measures to resolve outstanding disputes before submitting its report on August 22..

He said Nigeria’s decaying infrastructure had driven away investors and weakened the country’s position as Africa’s natural leader, adding that the NDC was determined to reverse the trend through purposeful leadership.

Also speaking, Galadima assured party members that the committee would carry out its assignment with fairness and transparency.

He noted that disputes arising from party primaries were not peculiar to the NDC, recalling that internal contests had generated crises in virtually all political parties, including the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

“When as many as 70 people contest for one position, disagreements are inevitable. The Electoral Act has also made party primaries more challenging. However, reconciliation remains the only path to building a united party capable of winning elections,” he said.

Galadima appealed to state chairmen, zonal leaders and party faithful across the country to cooperate fully with the committee, expressing confidence that genuine reconciliation would strengthen the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.