Musk, who leads Tesla, shared a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday describing his futuristic vehicle, the Tesla Cybertruck, stating, “Cybertruck is an APC from the future.”
While the post gained global attention, it sparked notable reactions in Nigeria, where “APC” is commonly recognized as the All Progressives Congress, the ruling political party that brought President Bola Tinubu to power.
A number of Nigerian users flooded the comment section, mistakenly interpreting Musk’s statement as a political reference, instead of the military meaning—Armoured Personnel Carrier—which the Cybertruck’s design is often likened to.
Some reactions showed confusion and curiosity. A user known as Daily Pulse asked, “Which APC are you referring to, sir?”
Another user, First Principles, cautioned, “You may want to avoid that abbreviation, Elon. In Nigeria, ‘APC’ is linked to a political party many associate with hardship, insecurity, and hunger. It’s a sensitive term here.”
Similarly, a user identified as Dhamilarey wrote, “Please use another word because APC is seen as a nightmare in Nigeria. Don’t make Nigerians start boycotting Tesla (sic).” Another commenter, Prom Prom, added humorously, “My heart skipped when I saw that. Elon, no more jump scares please (sic).”
Offering a different perspective, Aanuoluwapo Sukoto said, “As a Nigerian, ‘APC from the future’ sounds different. But the Cybertruck seems like a strong, all-terrain machine we could use. The future is here!”
Another user, Parable, advised Musk to spell out the term fully to avoid misinterpretation, while Tamunotonye noted, “Anything APC gives Nigerians PTSD. That acronym is deeply triggering.”
While many reactions were humorous or sarcastic—some even linking the tweet to local politics—others stepped in to clarify the meaning.
A user, Dr. Ose Etoobhio, explained, “Dear Nigerians, APC here means Armoured Personnel Carrier… like military tanks!”
Adding his voice, internet personality Daniel Regha stated that APC in this context refers to the design and partial functionality of a military armored vehicle, suggesting the Cybertruck is somewhat similar but not an exact replica.
