PRESS RELEASE:
The APC Progressives, a prominent grassroots pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has vehemently condemned an alleged plot by Senator Philip Aduda to disenfranchise party members in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Area Council.
The group raised the alarm following reports of a strategic move to bypass democratic primaries in favor of a “consensus arrangement” designed to hand-pick the Senator’s in-law for a key political position in Bwari.
An Affront to Internal Democracy
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, the group described the move as a “desperate attempt to subvert the will of the people” and an “undemocratic imposition” that threatens the unity of the party within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The APC Progressives noted that while consensus is a recognized constitutional provision, it must never be used as a smokescreen for nepotism or to stifle the aspirations of other qualified party members.
”The era of political godfatherism and the imposition of family members over competent party loyalists is over.
“We will not stand by and watch the democratic rights of APC members in AMAC and Bwari be traded away to satisfy personal interests,” the statement read.
The group issued a stern warning regarding the long-term implications of these actions, stating that this internal friction poses a grave danger to the APC’s prospects in the 2027 General Elections.
They argued that by alienating loyal party members and suppressing popular candidates now, the party is effectively “gifting” seats to the opposition.
The group said, disenfranchised members are unlikely to mobilize voters or show up at the polls in 2027 if they feel their voices were silenced by a “family-first” agenda.
Imposition often leads to internal sabotage, where aggrieved aspirants and their supporters may work against the party during the general elections.
AMAC and Bwari are critical voting blocs. Any fracture in these areas could lead to a total collapse of the APC’s influence in the FCT come 2027.
The group emphasized that for the APC to remain formidable, the leadership must ensure a level playing field.
“We cannot go into a critical election year like 2027 with a divided house built on the foundation of injustice,” the statement added.
A call for a process where the party’s rank and file choose their representatives.
An explicit rejection of any arrangement tailored to favor Senator Aduda’s relatives.
A plea to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to stop the brewing crisis before it undermines the 2027 campaign.
Signed,
Hon. Comrade Usman Joshua
Coordinator, APC Progressives Group (AMAC/Bwari)