Dalori Takes Over as APC Acting National Chair: Inclusive Leadership or Political Distraction?

Nigeria’s political theatre has never lacked drama and the latest episode comes with the quiet but telling emergence of Ali Bukar Dalori as the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). For some, this marks a breath of fresh air in the party’s tumultuous leadership trajectory. For others, it’s just another placeholder appointment — a familiar political tactic wrapped in promises of inclusivity.

Dalori’s ascension to APC Acting National Chairman is wrapped in polite press statements and a carefully staged “inclusive leadership” promise. But is Nigeria’s ruling party finally ready for real reform, or is this just another episode in APC’s long-running series of power struggles and internal squabbles?

Let’s unpack the implications, contradictions, and underlying tensions behind Dalori’s sudden rise — and what it means for 2025 and beyond.

Who is Ali Bukar Dalori and Why Now?

For the average Nigerian, Dalori might not be a household name, but he’s not a political nobody either. A seasoned grassroots politician from Borno State and current Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC, Dalori has long been a loyal party man. He rose through the ranks with little public scandal and significant influence in the northeast, particularly during the Buhari era.

But Dalori’s assumption of the acting chairmanship follows the sudden exit of the former APC National Chairman yet another leadership shakeup the party has tried to downplay.

So why him, and why now?

Here’s where it gets controversial: some insiders argue that Dalori’s elevation is less about competence and more about balance and control. With the 2027 general elections beginning to cast a long shadow, the APC may be playing identity politics appointing a Northerner with perceived neutrality to calm internal friction.

Translation? This isn’t necessarily about national unity. It’s about keeping the APC from eating itself alive before the next electoral battle.

The Inclusivity Promise: Bold Vision or Political Gimmick?

Dalori wasted no time. His first major public statement as acting chairman struck a familiar chord: “APC under my watch will be more inclusive, more democratic, and more committed to internal harmony.”

It’s a noble sentiment and one that every APC chairman since 2015 has repeated like a broken record.

Remember Adams Oshiomhole? He promised party discipline and internal cohesion. We saw how that ended impeachment, legal battles, and the collapse of the APC’s Edo State machinery.

Then came Governor Mai Mala Buni and the so-called “caretaker committee,” which critics said turned the party into a private fiefdom for governors and cabals.

Now Dalori is making the same pledge. But can he truly unite a party deeply fractured by regional tensions, ideological confusion, and unchecked ambition?

More importantly, how inclusive can a party be when its own primaries are routinely plagued by imposition and godfatherism?

Behind the Smiles: The Real Power Struggles in APC

Let’s not be fooled by the calm public handover. There’s serious unrest brewing beneath the surface of the APC.

Here’s what the party won’t admit:

• The Tinubu Presidency is struggling to maintain party unity, especially in the South-West where old alliances are fraying.
• Northern leaders are quietly rebuilding power blocks ahead of 2027, sensing that the Southern grip on Aso Rock may be temporary.
• Internal primaries in many states are being hijacked by moneybags and state governors, alienating party faithful at the grassroots.
• Youth wings and women groups are growing more disillusioned promised inclusion, but sidelined when decisions are made.

Dalori’s role, therefore, isn’t just administrative. He is now the unofficial crisis manager of a party that is publicly united but privately bleeding.

ALSO READ

Tinubu Hands Over ECOWAS Leadership to Sierra Leone’s Bio

Peter Obi Slams Tinubu’s Silence: “Where Is the President ?

APC NEC convenes July 24 to decide Ganduje’s successor

APC’s Identity Crisis: Progressive in Name, Conservative in Nature?

Another layer of controversy surrounds APC’s broader ideological confusion. The party still goes by the name “All Progressives Congress”, yet the most progressive thing about it in recent years has been its internal chaos.

From the fuel subsidy removal to the worsening naira crisis and rising unemployment, APC under Tinubu has been defending neoliberal policies that disproportionately hurt the poor while claiming to represent the masses.

So when Dalori promises “inclusivity,” we must ask: inclusive for who?

• For party elites and former governors looking for Senate tickets?
• For youth leaders who get a pat on the head but no real power?
• For marginalized zones like the Southeast and the Middle Belt who feel abandoned?

If Dalori wants to truly make a mark, he’ll have to go beyond media optics and tackle the party’s credibility problem.

What This Means for 2027: Early Signs of a Northern Power Reboot?

Let’s get brutally honest. Dalori’s emergence is a political signal especially to those paying attention to Northern Nigeria’s long-term strategy.

The North has always played the long game in Nigerian politics. With a Southerner now in power and facing difficult economic realities, Northern power brokers are quietly regrouping, watching for signs of electoral fatigue.

Some analysts believe Dalori’s leadership could pave the way for:

• A Northern consensus candidate in 2027
• A subtle rebranding of the APC to appeal to youth and minorities
• Stabilizing the Northern bloc within APC while Tinubu focuses on national crisis management

In this context, Dalori is not just a placeholder. He’s a chess piece in a larger power strategy.

Opposition Response: PDP’s Deafening Silence

Surprisingly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t gone hard on this transition at least not yet. This silence is suspicious and telling.

Could it be because the PDP is currently in worse disarray than the APC? Or are they waiting for Dalori to fumble publicly before launching a coordinated smear campaign?

In the meantime, smaller parties like the Labour Party (LP) and NNPP have missed the opportunity to capitalize on APC’s internal instability. Instead of offering alternatives, they’re stuck in internal leadership squabbles.

This gives Dalori a rare political breathing space to solidify his leadership if he’s smart enough to act fast.

Youths & Women in APC: Still at the Mercy of Tokenism?

Dalori mentioned inclusivity. But let’s be real youth and female representation in APC is still cosmetic at best.

APC youth conferences have become more about photo-ops and hashtags than actual influence. Young people within the party are often used as campaign tools and dumped during policymaking.

Same with women high-profile female appointments are rare, and often ceremonial.

Will Dalori change this? Or will he follow the script: promise diversity, deliver disappointment?

Can Dalori Succeed Where Others Failed?

Here’s the big question: is Dalori a reformer or just a stabilizer?

If he’s bold, he might:

• Push for internal democracy in primaries
• Engage APC youth and women wings meaningfully
• Rebuild the party’s credibility in the Southeast and South-South
• Call out governors who run party structures like personal businesses

But if he’s just another seat warmer, he’ll:

• Please the cabals
• Avoid conflict
• Protect vested interests
• Leave when the real chairman returns

It’s too early to tell but the signs are not screaming “revolution.”

WhatsnextNG Thoughts: Dalori’s Job Is Bigger Than He Thinks

Dalori is stepping into a role most wouldn’t envy. The APC is facing:

• Public anger over economic hardship
• Unrest among party loyalists at the state level
• A shrinking moral compass
• An approaching election cycle that could make or break its dominance

Whether Dalori rises to the challenge or fades into the long list of forgettable APC leaders depends on one thing: the courage to disrupt the status quo.

So far, we’ve heard the same promises we’ve always heard. Nigerians especially the youth aren’t listening anymore. They want action, not empty pledges.