Former presidential candidate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a cult, not a political party,” accusing it of lacking ideology, internal democracy and a coherent vision for Nigeria’s future.

But an erstwhile Federal Commissioner and stalwart of the APC from Osun State, Liad Tella, faulted Olawepo-Hashim, saying it reflected poor understanding of democratic practice and how political parties operate, particularly his argument that the ruling party lacked ideology.

During an interactive session with journalists at the weekend, Olawepo-Hashim alleged that the APC operates more like an authoritarian movement than a democratic platform.

“In the APC, one or two individuals hand down instructions for everyone else to obey like zombies. That is not a political party; it is a cult,” he claimed. He argued that the governing party has presided over unprecedented economic decline and worsening insecurity across the federation.

“They promised change, and indeed they brought change by dragging Nigeria’s GDP from over $570 billion in 2014 to less than $300 billion in 2025. They crashed GDP per capita from over $3,000 to below $1,000. They also expanded insecurity from the North-East to engulf the North West, North Central and South East,” he alleged.

Olawepo-Hashim urged Nigerians to demand higher standards of political organisation as the 2027 general elections approach, warning that governance without ideology or accountability cannot deliver prosperity.