Onochie claims APC ‘crumbling’ amid post-congress disputes

By NASRUDEEN ABBAS

Positioning the ADC as a “credible alternative,” Lauretta Onochie claimed that dissatisfied APC members have begun reaching out to opposition platforms. She urged Nigerians seeking political change to align with the ADC ahead of the next election cycle.

A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Lauretta Onochie, has alleged deep divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s February 2026 congresses held nationwide.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Saturday, Onochie claimed that internal disputes within the APC were largely overshadowed by controversies surrounding elections in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), but said the issues reflect broader tensions within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the statement titled, “HOW APC CRUMBLED”, with photo of a crumbling house for illustration, the former Special Assistant on Digital and Social to President Muhammadu Buhari during his last civilian administration, opened this by addressing Nigerians.

“Fellow Nigerians,

“Many of us do not know of the major infighting, a fallout from the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) party congresses held across Nigeria, this February 2026.

“These developments were overshadowed by the AMAC shambolic elections and went largely unnoticed. But these gaping cracks go beyond the high-profile Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and reflect broader tensions within the APC as it prepares its handover notes for 2027.”

According to her, the APC is now divided into three major camps after the congresses, citing disputes over leadership structures at ward and local government levels across several states, including Benue, Osun, Delta, Enugu, Zamfara and Akwa Ibom.

“Across the nation, from Benue to Osun state; from Delta to Enugu; from Zamfara to Akwa Ibom, the APC is now, more than ever, deeply divided between three major camps after the  congresses,” she said.

Onochie, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), also criticised the APC’s recent wave of defections from opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She alleged that efforts to integrate defecting governors and political figures from states such as Taraba, Kano, Bayelsa, Plateau and others have intensified internal rivalries, particularly over power-sharing arrangements.

She further claimed that in some states, including Rivers and Abia, court actions and administrative suspensions disrupted congress processes, raising concerns about party cohesion and internal democracy.

The ADC frontliner also alleged that parallel congresses were conducted in some locations, with rival factions announcing separate outcomes — a development she said has worsened divisions within the APC.

On the integration of defectors, she said, “The APC has intimidated, bullied and engineered a wave of “defecting?” governors and politicians from the PDP and other parties, from Taraba, Kano, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, and Enugu states.

“While it seemed like numerically boosting the party, accommodating these blocs has deepened factional tensions, especially where power-sharing formulae are disputed as these governors are now husbands of two wives – APC and their former political homes.

“Longstanding rivalries between APC state governors, federal appointees, and party elites have reshaped local power contests, influencing who controls ward and LGA leadership structures.

“In some cases like Rivers and Abia, court actions or administrative suspensions have halted processes, highlighting weaknesses in party cohesion and adherence to legal frameworks. This is more so, in a nation where criminal political elites who own the judiciary, have sadly, convinced Nigerians that custom-ordered court judgements are superior to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Across the nation at the APC congresses, there were duplicity of outcomes, with each side claiming its own congress outcomes as valid, worsening APC party cohesion.

“With a conquered APC NEC subsumed under the #RenewedHopeCult, there’s not much the servile leadership of APC could do.

“Security deployment was heavy but did not prevent organisational splits and violence, which resulted in deaths and injuries. This again, happened across the nation amongst APC members.”

Onochie stated that heavy security deployments during the congresses did not prevent reported violence, injuries and fatalities in certain areas. She questioned what she described as limited media coverage of the alleged internal crisis.

“WHY DID THE MEDIA BLANK OUT THIS SETBACK? I bet the Renewed Hope Cult which owns the APC platform and which turned our media into gossip mills rather than news media, has something to do with it.

“But they couldn’t blank out the numerous calls from across the nation I personally received from their long-suffering members who have been ashamed of the abysmal performance of our incompetent president and his docile team, but had no courage to leave APC. They have now been handed a gateway to jump ship and join the ADC. I am not the only one they are calling. Across the nation,” she said.

Positioning the ADC as a “credible alternative,” Lauretta Onochie claimed that dissatisfied APC members have begun reaching out to opposition platforms. She urged Nigerians seeking political change to align with the ADC ahead of the next election cycle.

“I predicted that the so called “High Profile Defection” is nothing but, schism. Delightfully, it’s hurting APC’s grassroots mobilisation and APC’s organisational strength across the nation.

“The lots are falling on pleasant places for Nigerians and their Credible Alternative, the ADC. Our doors are open, to receive Credible Nigerians, willing and able, to join hands with us, to begin the process of recovering our nation from thugs, bullies and those with leperous fingers who reap where they did not sow.

“Dear Nigerians, our tormentors have crumbled. It’s time to all Arise And Shine. God bless Nigeria.” She said.

The APC has not issued an official response to Onochie’s claims at the time of reporting.