APC Legacy Members, Chairmen to Party: Our Loyalty Waning Without Appointment

Founding members and legacy chairmen of Nigeria's All Progressives Congress (APC) are signaling a decline in their loyalty and commitment to the party, citing a lack of appointments and encouragement. The group, operating under the banner of G37 and representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, voiced their concerns during a meeting with the party leadership in Abuja.

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We are neither asking for special recognition nor undue patronage. However, it is unfortunate that among the 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, very few are legacy members of the party.

Comrade Cletus Obum, speaking for G37, recalled the party's origins, tracing the merger process back to 2004 and the formation of the Action Congress (AC) in 2006, later becoming the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He highlighted the significant hardships endured by the pioneers of the legacy parties, ACN, the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), and the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that eventually formed the APC. Obum noted that while their members have consistently supported the party in various elections, few legacy members hold positions in the current National Assembly.

"A stream must never forget its source," Obum stated, warning that neglecting pioneers weakens loyalty and can lead younger politicians to view politics as purely transactional. He emphasized that they were not seeking special recognition but rather a continuation of the tradition where their contributions are acknowledged.

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A stream must never forget its source. When pioneers are neglected, loyalty is weakened and younger politicians begin to believe that politics is merely transactional.

Responding to these concerns, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Ben Nwoye, assured the legacy members that they had not been forgotten. He urged them to remain steadfast and not become discouraged, stating, "The story is far from over." Nwoye acknowledged that not everyone may have received what they believe they deserve but stressed the importance of their resilience, drawing parallels to the party's own journey from AD to AC, ACN, and finally APC.

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You have not been forgotten. My story is your story. If anyone thinks the chapter is over, that is not true. We are only just beginning to write it. You all know how I got here, and so the story is far from over.