Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress has lost its direction and abandoned the vision of its founding fathers.
Fayemi made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, where he openly criticised the internal workings of the party and the conduct of its ongoing primary elections across the country.
The former governor, who was also a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, said the APC no longer reflects the ideals upon which it was founded before winning power at the federal level in 2015.
According to him, the party has drifted away from intellectual debate and healthy internal democracy, adding that many members now focus more on securing political endorsements from powerful figures rather than building consensus through discussion and engagement.
“There’s no intellectualism in the APC because there’s no debate in the party,” Fayemi said during the interview.
He explained that he had earlier raised similar concerns at the South-West zonal conference of the party held in Lagos, where he warned party leaders that the APC was moving away from its original vision.
“I was very explicit that this is not where the party has come from, that we have lost our bearings and the vision of the founding fathers of the party,” he stated.
Fayemi also criticised the increasing culture of consensus arrangements within the party, especially during primary elections. According to him, many politicians now rush to seek endorsement from the Presidency and influential figures in Abuja instead of allowing party members to freely decide candidates through open contests.
“It’s unfortunate that people are running to Aso Rock asking or begging for consensus. The inability to reach a consensus is implosion,” he said.
His comments come at a time when the APC is conducting primaries ahead of several political contests across states and constituencies. In recent weeks, disagreements over candidate selection, alleged imposition of aspirants, and consensus arrangements have sparked tension within the party in some states.
The APC was formed in 2013 after the merger of major opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. The coalition eventually defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 presidential election.
Many founding members of the APC had promoted the party as a platform that would strengthen internal democracy, fight corruption, and improve governance. However, critics within and outside the party have repeatedly accused it of abandoning those promises.
Fayemi himself played a key role in the formation of the APC and was regarded as one of its leading intellectual voices. His latest criticism is therefore likely to attract attention within political circles, especially as discussions around the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum.
The former governor has in the past spoken about the need for political parties in Nigeria to encourage debate, ideology, and issue-based politics instead of relying on power blocs and political patronage.
His latest statement may also deepen conversations about internal democracy within Nigerian political parties. Analysts have often argued that many parties lack clear ideological direction and are increasingly controlled by a few powerful individuals.
In several previous elections, disputes over consensus candidacies and delegate lists have led to court cases, defections, and internal crises within both ruling and opposition parties.
Although the APC leadership has not officially responded to Fayemi’s comments, some party supporters insist that consensus remains a legitimate method recognised by the Electoral Act, provided aspirants agree to it voluntarily.
Others, however, believe the process is often manipulated to favour preferred candidates, thereby weakening confidence among party members.
Fayemi’s remarks are coming at a politically sensitive time as politicians across party lines intensify consultations and alignments ahead of future elections.
The comments also highlight ongoing debates about the state of governance and party politics in Nigeria, especially within the country’s major political parties.
With growing economic hardship and rising public frustration across the country, many Nigerians have continued to demand stronger leadership, accountability, and better democratic practices from political leaders and institutions.