Senator Ali Ndume has raised alarm over the growing wave of defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party may be heading toward trouble if it continues to absorb politicians who bring little to the table.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture in Abuja, where he was honored as the “Most Outstanding Legislature and Advocate of National Unity,” Ndume said the APC is becoming too crowded with members who don’t contribute meaningfully.
He used a vivid analogy to describe the situation: “When you overload a ship with empty cargo, it can sink. That’s the danger we’re facing.”
Ndume noted that the APC now has 25 governors, and Taraba State’s Agbu Kefas is expected to officially join the party soon. In the Senate, the APC holds 76 out of 109 seats, giving it a strong majority.
Despite the numbers, Ndume argued that many of the defectors are inactive and don’t help the party grow. He criticized the practice of giving defecting governors automatic leadership roles in their states, comparing it to someone switching churches and immediately wanting to become the pastor.
He said, “This kind of behavior causes confusion and weakens the party’s structure.”
Ndume also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu, saying the president is sincere about his goals but is surrounded by people who lack the skills to help him succeed. He stressed the need for unity and called on party members to rally behind Tinubu.
“I speak out because I care,” he said. “One person can’t do everything alone. We need to remove those who are only in government for personal gain if we want to move forward.”
Ndume’s remarks reflect growing concerns within the APC about its direction and the quality of leadership needed to deliver real change.
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