APC Crisis Explodes: Basiru Tells Fayemi to Quit as Party War Deepens Ahead of Ekiti Election ⚡

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:02][sighs] >> The unfolding exchange between Kayode Fayemi and Ajibola Bashiru is not just another episode of party infighting.

[00:00:15]It is a revealing snapshot of deeper ideological tension within Nigeria's ruling party, the All Progressives Congress. When placed alongside Fayemi's earlier critique that the APC is losing its bearing and vision, Bashiru's sharp rebuker adds a new layer.

[00:00:33]The party is not only facing criticism from within, but is increasingly intolerant of it.

[00:00:39]At the heart of this confrontation lies a fundamental question.

[00:00:43]Can a ruling party accommodate internal dissent without perceiving it as betrayal?

[00:00:50]Fayemi's comments, delivered during his interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, were not the usual opposition style attack. They came from a founding member, a former governor, and a one-time minister who helped shape the ideological skeleton of the APC.

[00:01:09]His concerns about the erosion of debate, the decline of intellectual engagement, and the growing reliance on consensus candidates point to what he sees as a party drifting from its original democratic ethos.

[00:01:23]Bashiru's response, however, reframes those concerns as acts of disloyalty.

[00:01:29]By asking Fayemi to resign if he no longer believes in the party, and by raising the possibility of disciplinary action, the APC leadership appears to be drawing a hard line.

[00:01:40]Criticism, especially in public, may be interpreted as sabotage. This is where the tension becomes most instructive.

[00:01:49]Political parties, particularly dominant ones like the APC, often face a paradox.

[00:01:55]On one hand, they must project unity to maintain electoral strength.

[00:02:00]On the other, they need internal debate to remain intellectually vibrant and policy relevant.

[00:02:07]Fayemi is clearly advocating for the latter. While Bashiru is prioritizing the former. The collision of these priorities is what is playing out in real time.

[00:02:17]Bashiru's accusation that Fayemi is hobnobbing with opposition elements introduces a familiar narrative in Nigerian politics.

[00:02:26]The suspicion that internal critics are secretly aligned with rival forces.

[00:02:31]This claim echoes earlier remarks by Rotimi Amaechi who had suggested that some APC members were collaborating against the party.

[00:02:40]Whether or not such alliances exist the invocation of this narrative serves a strategic purpose. It delegitimizes dissent by framing it as conspiracy rather than conviction.

[00:02:53]Yet, this strategy carries risks.

[00:02:56]By equating criticism with anti-party activity, the APC leadership may inadvertently suppress the very discourse that could help it adapt and survive.

[00:03:06]Fayemi's critique about the absence of debate and intellectualism becomes more potent when the response to it is a threat of sanctions rather than engagement.

[00:03:17]It creates the impression of a party that is closing ranks rather than opening minds.

[00:03:22]The timing of this clash is also significant.

[00:03:25]With the Ekiti governorship election on the horizon Bashiru's argument that Fayemi's remark could demarcate the party is politically understandable.

[00:03:35]Elections demand cohesion messaging discipline and strategic silence on internal disagreements.

[00:03:42]However, this raises another question.

[00:03:45]Should electoral expediency override internal accountability?

[00:03:50]Fayemi's criticism of consensus candidacy is particularly noteworthy.

[00:03:55]Consensus arrangements, while often justified as a means of avoiding divisive primaries, can also be perceived as elite imposition.

[00:04:05]By arguing that this practice contradicts democratic principles, Fayemi is tapping into a broader concern about internal party democracy in Nigeria.

[00:04:15]His position suggests that the APC risks alienating its grassroots base if it continues to prioritize convenience over competition. Bashiru, however, defends the party's approach and goes further to dismiss Fayemi's critique of President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms as ill-informed or mischievous.

[00:04:35]This introduces a policy dimension to the dispute.

[00:04:39]Fayemi is not only questioning party structure, but also expressing skepticism about key government policies, such as fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.

[00:04:50]This dual-layer criticism, both structural and economic, may explain the intensity of the response. It is one thing to question party processes. It is another to challenge the policy direction of a government led by your own party.

[00:05:05]In this sense, Fayemi's intervention touches on the core of APC's governance narrative.

[00:05:12]However, dismissing such criticism outright may not be the most strategic approach.

[00:05:18]Economic reforms, particularly those as consequential as subsidy removal and currency liberalization, are bound to generate debates.

[00:05:27]When voices from within the party raise concerns, they can serve as an early warning system, highlighting areas of public discontent before they escalate into political backlash.

[00:05:39]Another important dimension of this episode is the symbolism of Fayemi himself.

[00:05:45]As a founding member of the APC, his dissolution meant carries more weight than that of a peripheral figure.

[00:05:52]Founders are often seen as custodians of a party's original vision.

[00:05:57]When they begin to express doubt, it raises questions about whether the party has strayed from its founding ideals.

[00:06:03]Bashiru's suggestion that Fayemi should simply leave the party if he disagrees reflects a more transactional view of party membership.

[00:06:12]It implies that loyalty is defined by alignment rather than engagement.

[00:06:17]This contrasts with a more deliberative model of party politics.

[00:06:21]Where disagreement is seen as part of growth rather than a threat to stability.

[00:06:27]The broader implication is that the APC may be at a crossroads.

[00:06:31]It can choose to evolve into a more open debate-driven institution.

[00:06:35]Or it can consolidate into a tightly controlled structure that prioritizes unity over diversity of thought.

[00:06:43]Each path has its advantages and risks.

[00:06:46]An open party may appear divided in the short term. But could be more resilient in the long run.

[00:06:53]A tightly controlled party may project strength, but risk internal fractures that emerge unexpectedly. Often at critical moments.

[00:07:02]For observers and stakeholders. This clash also provides insight into the dynamics shaping the 2027 political landscape. Internal disagreements within the ruling party often create opportunities for the opposition.

[00:07:15]If figures like Fayemi feel marginalized. It raises the possibility, however remote, of realignment that could reshape political alliances.

[00:07:25]At the same time, it is important not to overstate the immediate impact.

[00:07:29]Nigerian political parties have a long history of internal disputes that do not necessarily lead to fragmentation.

[00:07:36]Much will depend on how this particular disagreement is managed in the coming weeks.

[00:07:41]If the APC leadership chooses dialogue over discipline, it could turn this moment into an opportunity for introspection and renewal.

[00:07:50]If it doubles down on punitive measures, it may deepen the perception of a party intolerant of dissent.

[00:07:57]In the end, this is more than a personal clash between Fayemi and Bashiru.

[00:08:02]It is a test of the APC's internal democracy, its capacity for self-critique, and its ability to balance unity with openness.

[00:08:11]Like a drum stretched too tight, a party that cannot absorb internal pressure risks producing not harmony, but rupture.

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