Ogbonnia Quits APC, Slams Tinubu’s Leadership as “Failed,” Alleges Threat to National Sovereignty.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline
14 January 2026
Former Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and prominent Enugu State politician, Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, has formally resigned his membership of the ruling party, citing deep-seated grievances with its leadership and the direction of governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ogbonnia’s resignation was conveyed in a strongly worded letter dated Tuesday and addressed to the APC Chairman of his Owelli/Amoli/Ugbo/Ogugu Ward in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Copies of the letter were also forwarded to all tiers of the party structure, from the ward level to the national secretariat, including the APC National Chairman and National Secretary.
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He enclosed his APC membership card, requesting that it be treated as final evidence of his disengagement from the party.
In the letter, Ogbonnia said his decision followed “extensive consultation” with his family and political associates, as well as what he described as “deep reflection on the current political realities in Nigeria and within the party.” He maintained that remaining in the APC had become “untenable and unbearable” in light of recent developments.
A founding member of the APC, Ogbonnia recalled that he joined the party with high expectations of progressive governance, national renewal, and democratic consolidation. However, he said the party’s trajectory, particularly under President Tinubu, has deviated sharply from those ideals.
“Specifically, the leadership of the party under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed to address critical issues like insecurity, poverty, and unemployment, which directly impact the future of our people and the teeming youths,” Ogbonnia wrote.
He accused the APC of entrenching undemocratic practices, alleging widespread imposition of candidates, marginalization of loyal members, vendetta politics, and nepotism. According to him, these practices have eroded internal party democracy, abused electoral rights, and stifled participation and growth within the party.
Ogbonnia further alleged that the ruling party is deliberately working toward a one-party state. He claimed that “underhand practices” are being deployed to weaken and stifle opposition parties, a trend he warned could endanger Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
On youth representation, the former presidential aspirant faulted what he described as the near absence of young people in key federal appointments, arguing that it signals a disregard for the country’s future generation and undermines national renewal.
One of the most controversial aspects of Ogbonnia’s resignation letter was his claim that President Tinubu’s handling of security challenges has compromised Nigeria’s sovereignty. He alleged that the President’s “nonchalant” attitude to widespread insecurity has made the country vulnerable to foreign military intervention, which he described as a form of neocolonial encroachment.
“Tinubu’s inhumane leadership, where he has remained indifferent to severe security challenges ravaging the country, has compromised national sovereignty and made Nigeria vulnerable to foreign military interventions,” he stated.
Ogbonnia also condemned what he described as a plot within the APC to endorse President Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. He described such a move as “a gross insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians,” insisting that the President has failed in critical areas of national development and is “irretrievable” as a leader.
In another stinging remark, Ogbonnia alleged that President Tinubu has lost credibility both at home and abroad, claiming that the President has “lost his voice with the Nigerian people” and is increasingly isolated among Nigeria’s international partners, particularly the United States of America.
“These issues, among many others, have convinced me that the APC, in its current state, does not serve the best interest of my community or Nigeria as a whole,” Ogbonnia said. “Thus, I can no longer align or be associated with a political path that undermines the principles of true democracy and good governance Nigerians deserve.”
Despite his criticisms, Ogbonnia expressed appreciation to the party leadership at all levels for the opportunity to contest for the presidency under the APC during the 2019 electoral cycle. He wished the party well in its future endeavors.
Ogbonnia’s resignation adds to a growing list of defections and internal dissent within the APC, particularly from its founding members, as debates intensify over governance, internal democracy, and the party’s future ahead of the 2027 general elections. Observers say his exit may further fuel political realignments in the South-East and deepen conversations about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and opposition politics.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 14TH 2026)
