By Ahmad Sajoh, fnipr
Since it’s founding on 6th February 2013, my political home has been the APC. Having never belonged to any other party before, my commitment has always been rooted in the belief that we represent the best path forward. However, looking at the current landscape, it is clear that for the APC to thrive, we must get it right this time.
It is disheartening to witness those who have been the greatest beneficiaries of this party turn around to denigrate our leaders or work against the very structure that empowered them. They formed supposed coaltions, populate opposion parties and campaign against the very party that provided them the platform to be relevant in the first place.
When I see individuals who gained immensely from the APC as Governors, Senators, Ministers, Senior Aides to public office holders now distancing themselves or undermining our collective progress, it raises a vital question: *What do we stand for, and who are we building this party for?
Those who are loudest in critisizing and condeming our APC government today are those who in the last few years rode triumphantly as the major beneficiaries of the APC and the government it formed at the center. But there is a dangerous flip side to it.
There is a begging need to evaluate the Moral Cost of Rewarding Dissent. A party is only as strong as its core values. Lately, there has been an alarming trend of accommodating individuals who spent years actively working against the APC, insulting our leaders, and undermining our vision—only to be welcomed back as prime beneficiaries.
This sends a deeply demoralizing signal to the faithful: *that loyalty is a liability and dissent is a currency.* When we prioritize political convenience over integrity, we inadvertently mentor the next generation of leaders to believe that character does not matter.
If a young member sees that the fastest way to gain recognition and reward is to attack the party until they are “bought off,” we aren’t just losing our identity—we are poisoning the future of the party.
We must ask ourselves:
*What message are we sending to those who stayed during the difficult times?*
*How can we expect young people to value loyalty when they see “transactional politics” being rewarded at the highest levels?*
True strength comes from a consistent moral compass. The APC must stop incentivizing those who treat the party as a mere transit point for personal gain. If we want to build a legacy that lasts, we must protect the integrity of our ranks and ensure that those who are rewarded are those who have earned it through service, consistency, and respect for our leadership.
To move forward, the APC must prioritize a few core shifts:
*Valuing Loyalty and Integrity:* We must move toward a system that rewards those who have stood by the party through thick and thin, rather than those who treat political platforms as temporary vehicles for personal gain.
*Accountability for All:* Whether in government or as party members, we need a culture where success is shared, but betrayal of the party’s values is not ignored.
*Refining Our Identity:* It is time to refocus on the core ideals that drew us to the APC in 2013. We must ensure that our leadership reflects the aspirations of the dedicated grassroots members who have kept the flame alive for over a decade.
The APC is indeed a beacon of progress, but that requires us to be more discerning about the people we empower and more intentional about the values we protect.
I believe in this party, and I believe that by getting our house in order, we can ensure that the sacrifices of loyal members were not in vain.
It is time for a new chapter—one built on consistency, mutual respect, and a shared vision for our country.
*Ahmad Sajoh, fnipr* _writes from 35 Oran Street Wuse Zone 1, Abuja._
