8 May 2018
The APC congress in CRS was postponed due to suspicions that the Leader of the party Pastor Usani Usani may have compromised the congress committee who on arrival acted in a suspicious manner.
Led by Senator Owan Enoh and Ntufam Hilliard Eta, NCC, South South, leaders and members of the party invaded the hotel premises where the committee was lodged to demand inspection of materials to ensure they were intact. In the process the members siezed some pre prepared lists that were suspected to be on hand to compromise the committee and use as congress results which had not yet held. This was only in a member's car in the premises of the hotel, not with the committee. The materials were however intact. As a result, members were able to insist on a proper stake holders' meeting which later held at the party secretariat.
At the stakeholders' meeting members resolved unanimously, passing a vote of no confidence in the committee and further resolved that the NWC of APC should set up a new committee to conduct the congress. All these in the presence of the press, the Police and INEC representatives. Thereafter congress materials were moved to the Police office and lodged with them for safe keeping pending when a more trusted committee is appointed.
We all left happily and satisfied that democracy was working. Democracy is not without fault. What is required is that things are done right and when they are not, they must be corrected when the people demand so. I am very proud to have been a part of a protest that works. I am proud to be a member of a party where people power works, not where one man's wishes are the rule. That's the major difference I have seen from my experience so far and especially over the weekend. If this can be replicated nationwide, our democracy will advance.
Let us hope that the NWC will act swiftly to meet the yearnings and aspirations of party members for a free, fair and transparent process. We deserve no less.
Venatius Ikem
Is an APC CRS Chieftain
