Abuja Network News
As Nigeria grapples with economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and a tense security atmosphere, a quiet war is brewing within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) — a war not of ideology or reform, but of power, betrayal, and ambition. Beneath the veil of public unity lies a festering rivalry, and if left unchecked, it may ultimately destroy not only the fabric of the APC but also the legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Crisis Within: A House Divided
When President Tinubu emerged as APC’s presidential candidate in 2022 and ultimately won the 2023 elections, he was seen as a master strategist, a bridge between regions, and the unifier of divergent interests. But fast forward to 2025, his administration is now haunted not by opposition forces, but by enemies within — political allies who have turned saboteurs in broad daylight.
From the National Assembly to party leadership, signs of disloyalty are glaring. Governors aligned with rival blocs are dragging their feet on federal policies. Lawmakers are pushing legislative distractions that embarrass the presidency. Leaks from closed-door meetings make headlines before the sun sets. The ruling party, once envisioned as a machinery for reform, is fast becoming a theatre of self-sabotage.
The Automatic Ticket Crisis: A Powder Keg Waiting to Explode
One of the most incendiary triggers of the ongoing rebellion within the APC is the controversial decision by certain power blocs within the party to offer automatic unopposed return tickets to President Bola Tinubu and several sitting governors — without broader party consultation or primaries.
In June 2025, party insiders leaked details of a private meeting where top APC stakeholders allegedly agreed to an “unopposed continuity agenda,” effectively shutting the door on internal contest for the party's presidential and many gubernatorial tickets. The move sparked quiet outrage.
Most of the governors — especially those loyal to the party’s highest echelon — were quietly assured of seamless returns in 2027, irrespective of performance or public opinion. Party chieftains who had planned to challenge their leadership were told, in subtle terms, to step aside or “wait their turn.”
Even more explosively, some weeks back, senators across the federation also began agitating for similar guarantees — insisting that if Tinubu and the governors could get automatic tickets, then the National Assembly members should be included. This triggered tension between party factions, as influential members felt betrayed and sidelined.
Sabotage in the Shadows: Trapped but Angry
But here lies the real danger: many of these aggrieved party men and women cannot leave the APC — not because of loyalty, but because of fear. Fear of EFCC investigations, anti-corruption probes, and the loss of political cover. These individuals are now trapped in a party they no longer trust, pledging fake loyalty while planting landmines beneath the feet of those in charge.
These are lawmakers and former appointees who understand the inner workings of the system — and who, having lost access and recognition, are now resorting to quiet sabotage. Funding hostile media, leaking internal documents, and sponsoring protests under the guise of “civil movements” have become their weapon of choice.
It is a political time bomb.
The Gbajabiamila Fallout: Inner Circle Under Fire
One of the early victims of the inner-party resentment was Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, who was accused of monopolizing access to the President. Though unproven, the accusations gave disgruntled factions an excuse to attack Tinubu’s inner circle, blaming them for appointments, marginalization, and exclusion.
It marked a turning point — a coded warning to Tinubu that his own people were watching him, not in admiration but in resentment.
Senate Battles: Akpabio’s Perilous Balancing Act
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is another target in this war of attrition. His survival has come at the cost of strategic maneuvering, backdoor negotiations, and sheer political will. But with each day, the opposition within grows stronger — not PDP opposition, but from APC lawmakers who feel abandoned by the presidency and shut out of future ticket negotiations.
The issue of automatic return tickets has further inflamed this faction, many of whom see the decision as a deliberate move to end their political careers prematurely.
The Amosun-Abiodun Case: Ogun Mirrors the National Crisis
Nowhere is this more obvious than in Ogun State, where the internal battle between former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Governor Dapo Abiodun has gone from cold war to open sabotage. Amosun, still in APC but openly critical of the state administration, is seen as building alliances to scuttle Abiodun’s 2027 bid — despite being in the same party.
It is a classic symptom of what ails the APC nationally: factions fighting not the opposition but each other.
The 2027 Shadow: The Real War Has Begun
Much of this crisis can be traced to the quiet but aggressive scramble for 2027. Though President Tinubu remains silent on his re-election ambitions, his closest supporters are already acting on the assumption that he will run — and are building a “no-contest firewall” around him. But this has only made the aggrieved more desperate.
The APC, rather than preparing for battle with the opposition, is instead preparing to tear itself apart in a power struggle that threatens its future.
Tinubu’s Dilemma: Hold the Party or Watch It Implode
President Tinubu, a veteran of many political battles, must now face perhaps his most dangerous war — the one within his own family. If he fails to reconcile these competing interests, especially over the issue of automatic tickets, he may go down as the leader who could not manage his own creation.
The current policy of exclusion and imposition may deliver short-term loyalty, but it breeds long-term disloyalty. A political volcano is already bubbling beneath the surface.
Analytical Breakdown: Lessons from History
- PDP 2014-2015: When automatic ticket assurances and arrogance of incumbency alienated party faithful, they turned against President Jonathan, leading to an APC takeover.
- Buhari 2019-2023: Failure to consult and carry party leaders along led to massive internal sabotage during the 2023 elections. Tinubu must not walk this path.
Conclusion: Fix the Roof Before the Rain Comes
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu still has time to salvage both his party and his legacy. But that window is closing fast. The APC must rethink the “automatic ticket” agenda and open up internal democracy, even if controlled.
The enemy is not outside. It is within. And unless confronted now, APC vs APC may become the battle that consumes not just the party — but the man who built it.
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