BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Bayelsa
A former deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Great Joshua MacIver, has warned that the party may face internal collapse if urgent steps are not taken to address rising disunity among its members.
MacIver, who was the APC’s deputy governorship flag bearer in the 2023 elections, also reaffirmed his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing the project as non-negotiable.
In a statement titled “Bayelsa APC Congresses: Going Forward, A Call to Look Inwards,” issued at the weekend in Yenagoa, the APC chieftain urged party leaders to prioritise reconciliation and inclusiveness to avoid further cracks within the fold.
He expressed concern over what he described as an imbalance in the party’s internal structure, alleging that a particular bloc is being favoured at the expense of others.
According to him, the development has already triggered defections and could lead to more exits if not urgently addressed.
MacIver said the party risks losing key stakeholders, especially after the conduct of state, National Assembly and governorship primaries, if it fails to close ranks.
He noted that although the APC remains a strong contender ahead of future elections, internal divisions could create openings for opposition forces to exploit.
While reaffirming his loyalty to the party, MacIver stressed that unity remains critical to achieving its political objectives, particularly the re-election of President Tinubu.
“Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr President, a project to which we have committed our all. However, we must ensure that we do not create loopholes that can impede our common goal,” he said.
He further congratulated the newly elected Bayelsa APC state executive led by Hon. Warman Ogoriba, expressing confidence that the leadership would work towards restoring unity within the party.
MacIver described their emergence as timely and urged them to carry all members along in order to strengthen the party ahead of future political contests.
