NewStats: 3,262,125 , 8,176,138 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 08:49 PM 2p2d4s

It is a popular past time of the Nigerian intellectual to lament about the sameness of the APC and the PDP. This sentiment usually bubbles to the surface after a round of defections by politicians from the PDP to the APC or vice versa. Although lately, the traffic seems to be from PDP to APC.

The Nigerian intellectual looks at the West and see that its parties are divided into the left and right, and they wish that Nigeria could be the same.

Since I am a self avowed member of the Nigerian intellectual class, instead of lamenting, I’ll do one better by coming up with the ideological difference between the APC and the PDP. The difference at this moment is nascent and not so clear cut. But I believe that it is something that any of the parties involved can distill into an ideological stance.

The PDP has a nationalist bent while the APC is more tribal in its orientation. Simply, the APC is tribalist, while the PDP is nationalist.

The nationalism of the PDP took root in its formation. It was formed by the G34, which was a group of Northern and Eastern politicians who were opposed to Abacha’s plan to transition into a civilian president. The G34 allied with the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), founded by the late Shehu Yar’Adua, to form the PDP.

The APC, on the other hand, is an agglomeration of previously existing ethnic political parties (The ACN and the C). The C, led by Buhari, was basically the party of the Hausa-Fulani, while the ACN, led by Tinubu, was the party of the Yoruba.

You can also see the ethnic coloration in the action of the APC in government. Buhari’s government was dominated by the Hausa-Fulani. The same way the current Tinubu’s government is dominated by the Yoruba.

Meanwhile, when the PDP was in power, Obasanjo’s government was quite nationalistic. The Yar’adua - Jonathan government was less so, but there were still arguments to be made for their national outlook.

Of course, the PDP was a lootocracy. But at least, looting under the PDP crossed beyond ethnic lines. Dasuki shared his looted $2 billion with other corrupt politicians like Bode George, Yerima Abdullahi, Peter Odili, Attahiru Bafarawa, and Ahmadu Ali.

Meanwhile, under Buhari, the looting was primarily within his kinsmen, like Abubakar Malami and Hadi Sirika of Nigeria Airways fame. The Yoruba faction of the APC took the looting in stride. Because like Tinubu said, it would soon be his own turn to have a go at the national cake. And now that he has gotten his hands on it, he and his kinsmen are stuffing it in their collective mouths without remorse.

The ethnic political formation of the APC isn’t new in the country. In fact, this has been how it has always been. Since independence, prominent political parties have always started out as ethnic associations, before metamorphosing into tribal parties.

In the wake of independence, the NPC was for the Hausa Fulani, the AG for the Yoruba, and the NCNC for the Igbos.

To be fair, the NCNC initially started out as a nationalist party. It was so nationalist that even the Alaafin of Oyo was an NCNC stalwart, in opposition to Awolowo’s AG. He was deposed for that.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Awolowo kicked out the NCNC from the Western region by appealing to ethnic solidarity in the 1951 Western Region election. Licking his wounds, Azikiwe would return to East and transform into the Igbo tribal champion.

We would have the same tribal configurations during the second republic. It would have also been the same in the June 12 elections, but the Babangida regime nipped it in the bud and decreed that all politicians must either of two political parties.

It is also curious to note that Nigeria had the best time ever in its history under the 15 year rule of the nationalist PDP (1999 to 2015). It seems like not being bigoted has its advantages.

For one, you’ll be willing to look for the best of the best to helm affairs, even if they’re not from your tribe. Like the technocrats (El Rufai, Iweala, Ezwkwesili, Soludo, and co) during Obasanjo’s time as president.

The current fourth republic is the longest we have had democracy in Nigeria. It is very likely that with time, the differences between both political parties can become ossified enough for them to have distinct ideologies.

At least that way, it would be harder for politicians to decamp willy nilly, and that would be one less headache for the Nigerian intellectual.

Source - https://naijachronicles.substack.com/p/is-there-an-ideological-difference

None whatsoever.

Peter Obi was from Pdp. Add LP

Those are the current major political party in Nigeria..

Kettle can't be calling pot black

You forgot to add LP

Nigerian politics is mostly about capturing and retaining power, it has nothing to do with alien principles such as ideology or the will of the people.

Na only this one I read in the jargons.

NCNC was never started as an Iboo party. Hebert Macaulay pioneered that party and na Yoruba him be.

Zik was also part of the clique but as usual with Iboo, they hijack what is not fully theirs and claim it.

Same thing happening in Labour Party. Suddenly Ibo don turn LP to their party and any dissenting voice in that party is labeled tribaleeest.

In the wake of independence, the NPC was for the Hausa Fulani, the AG for the Yoruba, and the NCNC for the Igbos.

To be fair, the NCNC initially started out as a nationalist party. It was so nationalist that even the Alaafin of Oyo was an NCNC stalwart, in opposition to Awolowo’s AG. He was deposed for that.

I would say APC values effectiveness, their goal is build Nigeria from the ground up into a strong industrial powerhouse, no matter what it cost.

PDP was more concerned with Federal character above everything else even growth and effectiveness, this approach helped to prevent a military return to power but couldn't achieve much else and might have even encouraged more crisis;

Obasanjo was appointed because of MKO crisis

Goodluck was appointed because of Delta Militant crisis

This then prompted Northerners to begin funding a Boko Haram crisis hoping to put their own people next, it also encouraged the IPOB crisis with the same motive.

PDP Federal character ideology ended up backfiring and would ultimately end up destroying it.

There are very big difference

1) PDP believes in human capital development over infrastructural development... There is a reason they didn't build much infrastructure but Nigerians where richer under PDP

2) PDP prioritized unity of Nigeria... Doesn't matter if a region voted for them or not that region got what was due them in fact regions that didn't vote PDP usually get far more to entice them to vote the party

3) no matter how corrupt PDP was certain position was for technocrats only but for APC everything is about political rewards



There are more but don't have this time

danvon:
I would say APC values effectiveness, their goal is build Nigeria from the ground up into a strong industrial powerhouse, no matter what it cost.

PDP was more concerned with Federal character above everything else even growth and effectiveness, this approach helped to prevent a military return to power but couldn't achieve much else and might have even encouraged more crisis;

Obasanjo was appointed because of MKO crisis

Goodluck was appointed because of Delta Militant crisis

This then prompted Northerners to begin funding a Boko Haram crisis hoping to put their own people next, it also encouraged the IPOB crisis with the same motive.

PDP Federal character ideology ended up backfiring and would ultimately end up destroying it.

APC is building Nigeria from ground up yet GDP has dropped by over 70% since 2015

mrvitalis:

APC is building Nigeria from ground up yet GDP has dropped by over 70% since 2015

The Pyramid of Giza was not build overnight, great things take time.

danvon:


The Pyramid of Giza was not build overnight, great things take time.

PDP had already grown our GDP by 7 times by their 10th year in power

APC had removed 70% by their 10th year in power... Our GDP has to grew 300% to reach where PDP left it


Are you sure you are smart enough to know the difference between when someone is building something and when someone is destroying it?

APC (frugal) : Capitalist government of the elites, for the elites, by the elites. Tax the poor to pay the rich. Impoverish the masses for easier governance. Reduce the purchasing power of the people.

PDP (lavish) : Share the money. Stomach infrastructure and voodoo economics.
Enjoy now to the detriment of the coming generations. Chop make I chop arrangements.

Technically, Yes!
PDP holds more political values than APC.
Any man who has never married a second wife may not value his first wife that much.

An article produce and publish by Osu.only a mad man think Apc,Pdp,Nnpp and Lp are different, but what do you expect from osu people?

LegendHero:
Na only this one I read in the jargons.

NCNC was never started as an Iboo party. Hebert Macaulay pioneered that party and na Yoruba him be.

Zik was also part of the clique but as usual with Iboo, they hijack what is not fully theirs and claim it.

Same thing happening in Labour Party. Suddenly Ibo don turn LP to their party and any dissenting voice in that party is labeled tribaleeest.


U dey mind the criminal usurper?

thesicilian:
Nigerian politics is mostly about capturing and retaining power, it has nothing to do with alien principles such as ideology or the will of the people.

[color=#006600][/color]

PDP is still better. They practice all inclusiveness. They don't have a specific religion they . Anyone saying otherwise is a religious bigot.

mrvitalis:

PDP had already grown our GDP by 7 times by their 10th year in power

APC had removed 70% by their 10th year in power... Our GDP has to grew 300% to reach where PDP left it


Are you sure you are smart enough to know the difference between when someone is building something and when someone is destroying it?

Lol this guy you brutal

mrvitalis:

PDP had already grown our GDP by 7 times by their 10th year in power

APC had removed 70% by their 10th year in power... Our GDP has to grew 300% to reach where PDP left it


Are you sure you are smart enough to know the difference between when someone is building something and when someone is destroying it?

When you dislike someone you will surely find a reason to justify it.

Nigeria is being celebrated for paying its debts but that is not a sign of growth to you.

In theory, there should be an ideological difference between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), as is typical of parties in a healthy democratic system. However, in practice, the ideological distinctions between the two major Nigerian parties are often blurred.

Both parties have adopted similar positions on key economic and political issues over the years, and their platforms tend to emphasize general themes like national unity, development, and anti-corruption—without a consistent, distinct ideological framework. Additionally, frequent cross-carpeting of politicians between the two parties has further eroded any clear ideological identity, making party loyalty more about political expediency than about principle or policy.

That said, there are rhetorical differences: the PDP often presents itself as a center-left party with a focus on social welfare and infrastructure investment, while the APC has positioned itself, at least nominally, as a center-right party advocating anti-corruption and fiscal responsibility. However, these distinctions are rarely reflected in consistent governance philosophies or policy implementation.

In summary, while there may be theoretical or rhetorical ideological leanings, the practical difference between APC and PDP has largely been one of personalities, political alignments, and power dynamics, rather than of clearly defined and consistently upheld ideological principles.

danvon:
I would say APC values effectiveness, their goal is build Nigeria from the ground up into a strong industrial powerhouse, no matter what it cost.

No wonder Nigeria has gone from bad to worse in 10 years of APC

danvon:


When you dislike someone you will surely find a reason to justify it.

Nigeria is being celebrated for paying its debts but that is not a sign of growth to you.

You are owing 10 people you cleared one then borrowed more from the other 9 then claim you cleared your debt?

None whatsoever, that is why you see people criss crossing both parties willy nilly.

In Edo and Kogi states, both parties swapped gubernatorial candidates in four years.

Yet some want to kpai themselves over their misplaced adoration of Peter Obí, who is the very epitome of a carpet crossing Nigerian politician.

The difference are the obidients.

APC and PDP are technically one and d same since politicians criss-cross the 2 parties at the tip of a hat.

It was the over-bearing influence of 'obidients' in the gej govt that relegated pdp from being the largest party in africa to a regional party.
Since that time, pdp has never been d same again.

The party is practically dead, no thanks to them.

mrvitalis:

You are owing 10 people you cleared one then borrowed more from the other 9 then claim you cleared your debt?

So in your opinion owing 10 people is better than owing 9 people?

danvon:


So in your opinion owing 10 people is better than owing 9 people?

Oga doesn't matter what matters is the total amount u owe which have increased under Tinubu

Are we even debating this?

The Difference is clear even to the Blind. PDP has a Nationalistic ideology while APC has Palliative/Almajiri ideology towards governance.

Nigeria cannot see growth understand such a primitive ideology of palliatives that enslaved Ronu since time immemorial to have concluded that Tinubu built Lagos.