The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has warned former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, against making statements capable of damaging the image of the ruling party.
Basiru said the party could impose disciplinary sanctions on Fayemi over comments he recently made concerning the internal affairs and direction of the APC.
Fayemi, during an interview on “State Affairs with Edmund Obilo,” had accused the APC of drifting away from the ideals of its founding fathers, warning that the party was gradually losing its ideological direction and culture of internal debate.
The former governor also criticised the increasing adoption of consensus arrangements and endorsements within the party, saying such moves could trigger internal crises ahead of future elections.
According to Fayemi, the current political atmosphere within the APC no longer reflects the principles upon which the party was founded.
“This is not where the party has come from. We have lost our bearing and the vision of the founding fathers of this party,” Fayemi reportedly stated during the interview.
He further warned against what he described as excessive political patronage centred around the Presidency, saying it was unhealthy for party stability.
“It would be unfortunate if everybody is running to Aso Rock because they want something,” he said, adding that party members denied consensus arrangements could become dissatisfied and cause internal implosion.
Reacting to the remarks, Basiru dismissed Fayemi’s concerns and advised him to leave the APC if he no longer believed in the party.
The APC scribe said Fayemi should not remain within the party while allegedly wishing it failure.
“We urge him that since he so much despises the party and wishes the party an implosion, he should go to where whatever he thinks his best ideas can be ventilated,” Basiru said in an interview with Punch newspaper.
He added that the ruling party would not tolerate comments or actions perceived to be against its interests.
“Let him go and join another party. If he does not join another party, the APC will not hesitate to invoke disciplinary actions to sanction him for anti-party activities,” Basiru warned.
The APC national secretary also linked Fayemi’s comments to ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Basiru alleged that Fayemi had been fraternising with opposition politicians and referenced recent comments by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, concerning plans by some politicians to form an opposition coalition against the APC.
According to him, Fayemi and some of his loyalists had been engaging opposition elements ahead of the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.
Basiru argued that Fayemi’s criticism of the party at a period when the APC was preparing for governorship primaries in Ekiti amounted to an attempt to weaken the party politically.
He maintained that the timing of Fayemi’s comments suggested a deliberate effort to “demarket” the APC before the crucial governorship poll in the state.
The development has further exposed growing tensions within the ruling party as political alignments and permutations ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum across the country.
Fayemi, one of the founding members of the APC and a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has in recent months repeatedly called for ideological reforms and stronger internal democracy within the party.
Political observers say the exchange between both APC chieftains may signal deeper divisions within the ruling party as preparations intensify for future electoral contests in Ekiti State and across Nigeria.
