Former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress is gradually losing the founding ideals upon which the party was built, describing the growing culture of consensus politics as a threat to internal democracy.

Speaking during an interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, Fayemi criticised what he described as the erosion of intellectual debate and democratic engagement within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Minister of Solid Minerals Development said the increasing adoption of consensus arrangements during party primaries across states could deepen internal divisions and trigger instability within the ruling party.

“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 stated.

The APC chieftain, who is also one of the party’s founding members, had earlier expressed similar concerns during the APC South-West convention held in Lagos.

Fayemi noted that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains one of the architects of the APC, the pressures of governance may have limited his ability to directly manage emerging internal tensions within the party.

Responding to concerns about alleged imposition of candidates, Fayemi said he would not necessarily describe the current political climate that way.

“Maybe they just agree with him,” he said.

However, he cautioned against what he termed excessive dependence on presidential endorsements and political patronage from the Presidency.

“It would be unfortunate if everybody is running to Aso Rock because they want something,” he warned.

According to Fayemi, the consensus approach currently gaining traction within the APC risks alienating aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders who may feel excluded from the political process.

“Those who don’t get consensus won’t be happy… and you’re waiting for an implosion,” he added.

The comments come amid growing political realignments and intensified preparations within major political parties ahead of the 2027 elections, with several APC state chapters already conducting consensus-based primaries and endorsements for governorship and legislative contests.

Fayemi’s remarks are expected to further fuel ongoing debates over internal democracy, candidate selection processes and the future direction of the ruling party as Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle.