By Alexander Aghedo
After over a decade of existence, two presidents, three senate presidents, three speakers of the House of Representatives, dozens of governors, and hundreds of legislators across the country both federal and state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly stamped its place as the dominant force in the Nigerian political landscape.
The APC has won every political battle – except perhaps the most important one- what it stands for. These political victories notwithstanding, the fundamental question remains unanswered: What core ideological principles guide the APC?
The APC has functioned more as a powerful election-winning machine than a structured ideological movement. While this has worked politically, it has left a vacuum in terms of direction, purpose, and long-term vision. This lack of a guiding ideology is becoming increasingly evident, especially in the face of widespread defections and acts of anti-party activities by politicians who have no clear political philosophy or commitment beyond their immediate personal interests.
Given this facts, it is now imperative that the APC set up a “Progressive Institute” as an intellectual and training hub to teach the values and ideals the party stand for. Petecting our democratic institutions and advancing our processes has been one major concern of most observers, includng strict adherence on internal democracy and the freedom that goes with it.
This institution will train politicians on how to become more issue-centered and responsive to the call of leadership. Such an institute should not be another ceremonial structure created to massage egos or reward political loyalists with board appointments. It should be a serious, results-driven institution designed to define, teach, propagate, and defend the ideological foundation of progressivism in the Nigerian context.
Ideological Clarity is the reason we have political parties today, so a political party that bears “progressive” in its name, but is yet to clearly articulate what progressivism means to Nigerians is open to criticisms . A progressive institute matters because it will clearly state if it’s about economic reforms, social justice, true federalism, or national integration, and development through devolution of power to sub-nationals.
A Progressive Institute would help clarify and evolve the party’s identity. This identity starts with political eduction and grooming.
The institute could serve as a breeding ground for future leaders. Governors, lawmakers, ministers, and even presidents imbued with the party’s vision, trained to govern with principle, and grounded in democratic values. It would help professionalize Nigerian politics by teaching the fundamentals of governance, public policy, and ethics.
A progressive institute will not only check defection but will curb opportunism. When parties lack a clear vision, they become dumping grounds for opportunistic politicians to perpetuate themselves. The APC is at risk of going the way of the PDP, bloated, directionless, and gradually crumbling under the weight of internal rivary. A party built on ideas, not just interests, can withstand the test of time and transitions. With a strong ideological foundation, internal party debates and disagreements can be managed constructively. Members will argue from shared principles, not personal allegiances. A progressive institute can play a neutral role in fostering unity by aligning divergent interests around core values, and strengthen internal democracy.
It is no news that Nigeria is in short supply of clear-thinking political parties to influence national debates. The APC has the numbers, but it needs the intellectual infrastructure to balance. A Progressive Institute could serve as a think tank that sets the agenda on national issues, offers alternative policy directions, and holds governments both APC-led and others accountable to progressive ideals. The near collapse of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) isn’t just about election losses; it is about losing purpose. The PDP has become a shell of its former self because it lacked a binding ideology. It was unable to sustain coherence in leadership, lacked consistent messaging, and ultimately could not evolve, so the APC must learn not to allow history repeat itself. The party’s founding was historic in 2013, a merger of three different political parties driven by the need to rescue Nigeria from prolonged misrule. After twelve years i make bold to say that the merger is not enough. It’s time for consolidation, and ideology is the bedrock of that process.
For APC to truly live up to its name and legacy, it must think beyond elections. It must invest in building an intellectual tradition a space where ideas matter, where party members are not just political actors but ideological soldiers.
A Progressive Institute is no longer a luxury. It is a strategic necessity a step that could define the future of not just the APC, but of Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
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