Speaking at the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday night, Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, cautioned that the party’s rapid expansion could backfire.

By Titilope Adako

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be at risk of “capsizing” under the weight of ongoing mass defections from opposition parties, Senator Ali Ndume has warned.

Speaking at the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday night, Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, cautioned that the party’s rapid expansion could backfire.

Osun Defender recalls that Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) recently abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC. The ruling party has also gained more than a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly following the wave of defections.

Receiving the award for Most Outstanding Legislator and Advocate of National Unity, Ndume criticised the calibre of some defectors, saying many “add nothing” to the party despite being given prominent positions.

“I have warned that the APC is becoming overloaded. And when you overload a ship, especially with empty cargo, it risks capsizing. If it capsizes, the owner of the ship will face a bigger problem,” he said.

Ndume added: “Some governors join and automatically become leaders of the party in their states, yet they remain silent and contribute nothing. The PDP is struggling to play the opposition role, but we in the APC are not persuading anyone to join. They come because their house is on fire.”

The senator called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as it tackles the country’s growing challenges, while also warning that some ministers and key aides lack the capacity to deliver on their mandates.

Earlier, Mrs. Dame Azikiwe urged public office holders to emulate the selfless service and patriotic commitment of leaders from the First Republic.

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