A post by tech billionaire Elon Musk has stirred widespread reactions among Nigerian social media users after many misunderstood his use of the term “APC.”
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, shared a post on Sunday describing the Tesla Cybertruck, saying, “Cybertruck is an APC from the future.”
While the tweet gained global attention, it generated notable reactions in Nigeria, where “APC” is widely recognised as the acronym for the ruling All Progressives Congress. Many users mistakenly assumed Musk was referring to the political party rather than the military term Armoured Personnel Carrier, often used to describe the Cybertruck’s design.
The confusion led to a flood of responses, with some users expressing concern and others seeking clarification. One user asked, “Which APC are you referring to, sir?”
Another wrote, “You might want to skip that abbreviation, Elon. In Nigeria, “APC” represents a political party that has brought years of hardship, insecurity, and hunger to millions. It’s a trigger for a lot of pain here.”
Some reactions were laced with humour and satire, with one user saying, “My heart first drop go my belle. Elon, please don’t give me a jump scare like this again (sic).”
Others cautioned against using the abbreviation, with a commenter noting, “Please find a synonym for the word APC because APC is the greatest nightmare in Nigeria, don’t let Nigerians start boycotting Tesla (sic).”
Another user added, “Anything APC gives us PTSD in Nigeria. We have been traumatized by that acronym.”
Amid the reactions, some users clarified the meaning, pointing out that APC refers to Armoured Personnel Carrier in this context.
A user explained, “Dear Nigerians, I am fun at parties. APC means Armoured Personnel Carrier… like those armoured tanks!”
Another added, “APC, meaning it takes the design and partial functionality of a military armored vehicle. It’s almost like a replica, but not quite, I presume.”