CurrentReport Blog In a striking appeal to opposition parties and civic leaders, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman for the North-West of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged collective action to displace the APC in the 2027 general elections. Lukman, a prominent political figure and former Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), emphasized that unseating the APC is crucial for tackling Nigeria’s mounting socio-economic and security challenges.
In a bold statement issued on Saturday, Lukman stressed that the only way to address the myriad problems afflicting Nigeria is to mobilize against the APC’s governance. He asserted that widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians, exacerbated by the APC’s policies, especially the controversial removal of the fuel subsidy, underscores the need for an alternative political pathway.
“Nigerians are groaning over the spate of killings, kidnappings for ransom, food crisis, hike in electricity tariff, and high cost of transportation, goods and services in the country occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the APC-led government,” Lukman said. He pointed to these issues as critical factors that necessitate a change in leadership.
Lukman compared the current political situation with past successful efforts to dislodge entrenched power structures in Nigeria. He highlighted how the collective efforts of top politicians and civic leaders once succeeded in ending military rule and, later, in displacing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
“Just like we succeeded in pushing the military back to the barracks and defeating the PDP in 2015, it is possible to create a politically viable and truly popular democratically alternative platform that can put the APC in its rightful place,” Lukman argued. He called for a similar level of national mobilization to overcome what he described as the “extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned leadership of President Asiwaju Tinubu.”
Lukman’s call to action is not just a critique of the APC but also a blueprint for building a robust and democratic alternative. He urged opposition parties and civic leaders to come together and create a new political platform that genuinely represents the people’s interests. According to Lukman, the APC has strayed from its foundational vision and has become merely a tool for electoral victory rather than governance.
“Patriotic Nigerians and democrats must resume the business of national mobilisation to produce an alternative democratic platform to APC and all the charades of registered political parties. We must summon the courage and believe in the power of possibility,” he stated. Lukman stressed that democracy would be meaningless if it only resulted in electing “civilian overlords” who fail to address the needs of the populace.
Lukman did not mince words when criticizing his former party. He accused the APC of abandoning its original ideals and reducing itself to a platform focused solely on winning elections. This shift, according to him, has led to the neglect of the party’s vision and a failure to deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people.
