Dislodging Tinubu and APC Will Be a Difficult Battle

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Former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and recent Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Anambra State, George Moghalu, has cautioned that unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC will not be an easy feat.

During a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Moghalu stated that the opposition remains too divided to mount a credible challenge against the incumbent administration. He emphasized that any attempt to confront the APC without unity would most likely fail.

According to him, “I’ve said it repeatedly — removing an incumbent government is never simple. The only real path to defeating an incumbent or presenting a strong and competitive opposition is through collective focus and unity among opposition parties and their leaders.”

Moghalu, who previously served as the National Auditor of the APC, reflected on how the ruling party itself came into power through a merger of several opposition groups ahead of the 2015 elections, a strategic move that broke the longstanding dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before that merger, he recalled, parties such as the ANPP, CPC, and ACN operated separately and consistently failed to defeat the PDP, even when their candidates had widespread popularity.

“We fielded Buhari in 2003 and 2007, and he lost. He contested again in 2011 under CPC and still lost because the opposition was deeply fragmented. Each party had its own following while the PDP remained the stronger force,” Moghalu explained.

He noted that it was only after the combination of the ACN, CPC, ANPP, a section of APGA, and the DPN that the APC evolved into a powerful political bloc.

“That coalition wasn’t just a merger; it required individuals to set aside ambition and pride. That sacrifice created the APC and ultimately led to the PDP’s defeat,” he said.

Moghalu argued that the same principle remains true today, warning that the APC will retain its stronghold as long as the opposition continues to operate in disunity.

He stressed, “A robust opposition benefits the citizens more than the political class.”

Addressing internal power struggles, especially those triggered by defections involving sitting governors, Moghalu said incumbency tends to overshadow competence in Nigeria’s political structure.

“Most governors aren’t party leaders because they’re the most capable or educated, but because the system revolves around them. They control resources, influence and authority — that’s the political reality,” he said.

He clarified that the hierarchy of power begins with the President at the federal level, flows to state governors, and then to local government chairmen at the grassroots.

Moghalu dismissed concerns about Nigeria drifting into a one-party state, noting that political dominance is rarely permanent.

“We’ve seen similar cycles before. The PDP once controlled nearly 29 states but is now down to about six. Politics evolves constantly. No one can predict the APC’s future with certainty,” he added.

Defections: Personal Ambition Ahead of National Interest

Reflecting on his political path, Moghalu said he is still consulting supporters about whether to remain in the Labour Party, rejoin the APC, or move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He described Nigerian political parties as platforms based on collective interests rather than ideology, arguing that defections are usually driven by personal ambition rather than patriotism.

Commenting on defectors who refuse to relinquish offices won under another party, Moghalu said the practice is ethically questionable.

“The party’s name is what appears on the ballot, not the individual. Morally, it is wrong to take a mandate obtained under one political party and transfer it to another without the people’s approval,” he stated.

He added that the most genuine test of a defector’s integrity is for them to resign and seek fresh legitimacy before crossing over.

Responding to claims that dissatisfaction with APC governance is prompting defections, Moghalu insisted that political movements in Nigeria are generally interest-based, not performance-driven.