Onochie Faces Backlash Over Claims That APC Has ‘Crumbled ‘After 2026 Congresses

Former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie has come under criticism from supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other social media users following her claim that the ruling party has ‘crumbled’ due to internal crises arising from its February 2026 congresses.

Onochie, in a Facebook post titled “HOW APC CRUMBLED,” alleged that the APC is now deeply divided across several states, insisting that the recent congresses produced multiple parallel outcomes and intensified factional disputes nationwide.

She claimed that states such as Benue, Osun, Delta, Enugu, Zamfara, and Akwa Ibom are grappling with three major camps within the party, driven by rivalries among governors, federal appointees, and influential stakeholders fighting for control of ward and LGA structures.

She further alleged that the influx of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political platforms has worsened tensions, especially in states where power-sharing arrangements remain unsettled.

According to her, some congresses were disrupted by court actions and administrative suspensions, exposing what she described as weaknesses in the party’s internal cohesion.

Onochie also accused sections of the media of downplaying the party’s internal challenges, claiming that the political atmosphere surrounding President Bola Tinubu has contributed to what she termed a “blanket silence.” She added that she has received calls from aggrieved APC members across the country who, according to her, are now considering the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as an alternative political home.

Her assertions triggered strong pushback from her followers. One user, Mansur Taye Abioye, described her claims as “political excitement rather than fact,” stating that internal disagreements do not equate to the collapse of a political party.

He noted that the Peoples Democratic Party and other major parties have faced similar crises in the past. Abioye argued that defections in Nigerian politics are often acts of political survival, not ideology, and insisted that if the APC were genuinely collapsing, it would reflect at the polls and not on social media.

He added that President Tinubu is performing better than some past leaders.
Another follower, Emdee David, mocked her position, while Salako Kolade reposted an old comment in which Onochie had previously criticized Peter Obi, suggesting her recent views contradict her earlier stance.
Onochie, a former Special Assistant on New Media to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has in recent months become a frequent critic of the ruling party following her removal as Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board. Her latest comments contribute to the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 general elections.