A FORMER national vice chairman (Northwest) and member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Salihu Lukman, has dumped the party.
In a statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12, titled, ‘APC and the future of Nigerian Democracy: Letter to selected APC leaders,” Lukman linked his decision to resign his membership to the lack of internal democracy and inability of the leadership to allow the much-needed reforms within the party.
The former director general of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), did not, however, disclose his next move, only saying he has gone back to the trenches with other political leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the resignation letter, he said: “Given all this, it is possible to remain in APC if at all President Tinubu will allow internal reform in the party to return it to its founding vision, which as it is, is very remote.
“But my reality now in the party is that my membership has been rendered useless and there is no need for me to continue to impose myself.
“I have, therefore, gone back to the trenches and will try to work with all committed Nigerians who agree and subscribe to the goal of actively campaigning for the survival and development of democracy in Nigeria.
“We must grow our democracy to the point whereby elected representatives at all levels are accountable to the party and it is possible for Nigerians represented by various interests to develop strong relationship with political parties and elected governments based on which policies of governments can be made to reflect wider interests of Nigerians.
“I am confident that a strong democracy with functional political parties is possible in Nigeria. I am also confident that in our lifetime, we can produce governments that are truly capable of making the lives of Nigerians better.
“I don’t expect party leaders will agree with my decision. I believe that eventually, we will be united with all party leaders and other Nigerians who are committed to developing Nigerian democracy.”
In the last almost one year, Lukman had become a lone opposition within the ruling party, criticising it leadership and even some policies of the federal government he felt were not in the interest of the party and Nigerians.
