APC chair faces backlash over non-indigene ticket remarks

By Abubakar Yunusa

The national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, has ignited controversy with a statement declaring that only “true indigenous members” of the party in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be considered for public office elections.

The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from party members, particularly non-indigenes, who warn of dire consequences for the APC’s electoral prospects.

Rt. Hon. Dr Lawrence Onuchukwu, leader of the APC’s non-indigenous faction in the FCT and former vice chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), condemned Ganduje’s statement as “a recipe for disaster” and a significant setback for the party.

In a press release on Thursday, Onuchukwu described the policy as divisive and likely to alienate the substantial non-indigenous membership, which he claims holds greater voting power than indigenous members.

“Politics is a game of numbers,” Onuchukwu said, highlighting the electoral influence of non-indigenes.

He pointed to the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, where non-indigenous candidates defeated incumbent indigenous lawmakers, as evidence of their dominance.

“If the party relies solely on indigenes, it will fail woefully,” he warned.

Onuchukwu demanded that Ganduje either clarify or retract the statement immediately, questioning the chairman’s motives and the potential exclusion of non-indigenes from party benefits.

“If this is true, we want him to make further clarification. If not, he should withdraw the statement forthwith,” he stated.

The implications of Ganduje’s remarks could be far-reaching, Onuchukwu argued.

Non-indigenes, who form the majority of the APC’s FCT membership, may feel disenfranchised, potentially triggering a mass exodus from the party. Such a move could erode the APC’s support base and jeopard its chances in future elections.

The controversy comes at a time for the APC, which has faced internal divisions and public scrutiny over its handling of inclusivity and governance. Neither Ganduje nor the APC’s national leadership has issued a response to the growing backlash.