Former APC Leader Joshua MacIver Pledges Full Support for Tinubu's 2027 Re-election Campaign
Great Joshua MacIver, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa State during the 2023 general elections, has publicly declared his unwavering commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing this political project as absolutely "non-negotiable."
Internal Party Warning: Addressing Imbalance in Bayelsa APC
In a detailed statement titled "Bayelsa Congresses: Going Forward, A Call to Look Inwards" released to journalists in Yenagoa, MacIver issued a stern warning about unresolved internal challenges that could potentially undermine the party's electoral prospects in future contests. He specifically highlighted what he characterized as a dangerous imbalance in party cohesion that requires urgent attention.
MacIver pointed to significant inclusiveness problems among political blocs within the Bayelsa APC structure. According to his analysis, before the involvement of Douye Diri in the party, the APC in Bayelsa consisted primarily of two main blocs with an approximate ratio of 95 percent to 5 percent. However, following recent political developments, only the smaller bloc appears to be actively participating in party affairs, while the larger group has been effectively sidelined.
Potential Consequences of Continued Division
"This situation has the potential to breed anger and dissatisfaction within the party," MacIver cautioned, emphasizing that such discontent could trigger further defections if not properly managed through strategic intervention. He noted that failure to achieve genuine unity might result in the loss of key stakeholders, particularly following state, National Assembly, and governorship primaries.
While acknowledging that the APC remains the dominant party to beat in the 2027 elections and that loyalty to President Tinubu remains firm, MacIver stressed that internal divisions must not be allowed to create vulnerabilities that opposition forces could exploit. "Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr. President, a project to which we have committed everything. However, we must look inwards and ensure that we do not create loopholes that can impede our common goal," he stated emphatically.
Congratulations to New Party Leadership
In a conciliatory gesture, MacIver extended congratulations to the newly elected APC State Executive Committee in Bayelsa, led by Warman Ogoriba. He described their emergence as both timely and significant for the party's future trajectory, suggesting that this new leadership could potentially address the very concerns he raised about internal party dynamics.
The former APC stalwart's statement represents a complex political position—simultaneously expressing full support for President Tinubu's re-election while sounding alarms about structural problems within the Bayelsa chapter of the party that could threaten that very objective if left unaddressed.
