A Season of Bitterness: How APC’s Internal Primaries in Cross River State Betrayed the People and Deepened Hardship

The recently concluded internal primaries of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the forthcoming Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Cross River State have ushered in an era of disappointment and bitterness. What was meant to embody the spirit of democracy has been transformed into a mess—a flawed and exclusionary process that has left many aspirants, including myself, disillusioned and betrayed. If democracy has been reduced to the selection of candidates by a chosen few in the corridors of power, we are heading toward a reckless and irresponsible government—a government that will serve only the interests of those who greased the wheels of its ascent.

This travesty of primaries has become the worst ever conducted by a ruling party in this state. It was a cruel dance of hope and heartbreak, where aspirants were encouraged to chase their dreams, only to find out that the outcome was preordained. Many individuals, determined to serve their communities, made significant financial sacrifices—borrowing money to purchase interest forms, settling three years of party dues, and obtaining tax clearance certificates. The illusion of a level playing field was dangled before us, but in the end, the process was hijacked, leaving those who genuinely sought to represent the people in the dust.

How could the party leadership allow such chaos? Aspirants across the 18 LGAs and 196 council wards campaigned with vigor, expecting that the people would have a say in electing their leaders. But instead of creating an environment for free and fair competition, the process was reduced to mere selection by a few powerholders. Most troubling is the decision to grant chairmanship candidates the authority to choose their own councilors—a move that effectively turns the legislative arm at the local level into a rubber stamp for the executive. This affront to democratic principles is nothing short of political vandalism.

This brazen subversion of democracy has not only excluded the best and most popular candidates but also inflicted untold hardship on aspirants and their supporters. For a government that claims to put the people first, this process has been anything but people-centered. Many are now nursing the wounds of financial loss, broken trust, and shattered dreams. In a time when Nigerians are already struggling under severe economic pressure, the APC leadership has compounded the suffering by orchestrating a fraudulent and exclusionary primary process.

What’s more, the selection of councilors by nominated chairmen in colution with the House of Assembly serving members and other key government functionaries is a blatant disregard for the will of the people. It signals the rise of a governance structure that will serve a narrow circle of loyalists rather than the broader electorate. A government born from such manipulation cannot claim legitimacy. It will be accountable only to those who installed it, not to the people it claims to represent. This dangerous precedent will not only undermine governance at the local level but will also erode public trust in leadership.

If the APC leadership truly believes that this is the card it wants to play, one must ask: why were aspirants made to invest so heavily in a rigged process? Why encourage them to borrow money, pay dues, and comply with tax obligations if their fate was sealed from the start? This level of deceit has turned what should have been a season of democratic renewal into a season of bitterness. The very essence of democracy—where the people choose their leaders—has been discarded in favor of political convenience.

A fair contest would have allowed both winners and losers to walk away with dignity. Even in defeat, aspirants could have found solace in knowing they fought an honest battle. But this process offered no such solace. It has left a bitter aftertaste that is difficult to wash away, turning what should have been a celebration of democracy into a stark reminder of its betrayal.

The government must realize that the damage inflicted by this flawed process runs deep. If this injustice is not addressed, the consequences will reverberate far beyond the election. A government that alienates its people at the outset will struggle to govern effectively. Leadership, at its core, must reflect the will of the people. Anything less is a recipe for failure and discontent.

It is hard to offer the usual congratulations to those who emerged from such a flawed process, for doing so would amount to endorsing the broken system that brought them to power. The APC leadership must take urgent steps to restore public confidence. This is not just about winning elections—it is about upholding the values of fairness, accountability, and democracy.

The people deserve better. Cross Riverians deserve leaders chosen by them, not for them. If the APC truly stands for progress, it must make amends for this season of betrayal. There is still time to right these wrongs, but the window is closing fast. The question remains: will the leadership listen and act? Or will it continue down this dangerous path, sowing seeds of division, exclusion, and bitterness? Or will it consign itself to the shame of being the party that promised hope but sowed despair? History will judge, and the people will not forget.

The time to act is now.

From
Engr. Monday Igwe Elemi
The denied Councilor for
Nkpolo/Ukpawen Council Ward
October 17, 2024