ABUJA — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been hit by a wave of internal tremors as one of its most recognizable defenders, Adamu Garba II, publicly lashed out at the party’s leadership, warning that “things are not okay” under the current administration.
While social media was flooded on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with “Breaking News” reports claiming Garba had officially dumped the party and removed the APC flag from his office, investigations reveal a more complex picture. The viral video showing the flag removal is actually a May 2022 throwback from his previous exit over nomination fees. However, his latest real-time remarks suggest that while he remains in the party, his patience has reached a breaking point.
The “Sycophancy” Warning
Appearing on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” the former presidential aspirant delivered a remarkably blunt assessment of the President Bola Tinubu administration. He accused a “circle of sycophants” of shielding the President from the harsh economic realities and security crises currently ravaging the country.
“There is a lot of flattery and sycophancy within the party, and this is not good for us,” Garba declared. “People are telling the President that things are okay—things are not okay. We’ve had a history where a government thought they had total control, only to face devastating embarrassment at the end.”
The “Vulture” Coalition and Northern Decline
Garba’s alarm is rooted in what he perceives as a leadership vacuum following the controversial resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman. He warned that the APC is now vulnerable to the “vulture-like” opposition coalition currently gathering under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner.
Key Concerns Raised by Garba:
- Northern Support: He noted that the APC’s popularity in the North has plummeted since the exit of Muhammadu Buhari, pointing out that the party’s Northern vote count dropped from Buhari’s 12 million to just 5.5 million in 2023.
- Foreign Policy Failures: He described the administration’s handling of recent international tensions as “amateurish,” citing a lack of coordinated communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Strategic Re-engineering: Garba called for an urgent “re-engineering” of the party’s core strategies to avoid a total collapse before the 2027 general elections.
“The Activism of the Sidelined”—Nigerians Fire BackÂ
The sudden “moral awakening” of a man who was once the administration’s fiercest internet warrior has met with a wall of skepticism and biting criticism from Nigerians.
- “Changing with the Wind”: Critics on X (formerly Twitter) have blasted Garba for his “mercenary” approach to politics. “He was the chief defender of every policy when he was looking for an appointment. Now that the ADC is looking strong, he has discovered ‘sycophancy’ in the APC,” one popular commentator noted.
- “The Flag Trick”: Many Nigerians mocked the use of the old 2022 video to trend. “He’s been playing this ‘I’m leaving’ game for years. He will stay as long as there is hope for a contract, and leave only when the tap runs dry,” another resident in Abuja remarked.
- “Truth is Bitter”: Conversely, some supporters argued that regardless of his motives, Garba’s assessment of the “sycophants” is accurate. “For once, Adamu is speaking the truth. The President is being fed lies while the masses are starving,” a Facebook user wrote.
The ADC Magnet
The rumors of Garba’s exit were intensified by the recent high-profile defection of former APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in January 2026. While Adamu Garba II maintains he “stands with the President wholeheartedly,” his shift toward praising opposition figures like Peter Obi—whom he now calls a “worthy statesman”—suggests he is keeping his options very open.
