The awaited All Progressive Congress APC ward congress which is aimed at electing new party executive is a failed exercise measuring by all standards of democratic processes. The reports of aborted congresses in various states surpass the successful ones recorded so far.
In River State there were accusations against the minister of transportation and aviation Rotimi Chibuike Amachi by party members of trying to rig the ward congress. The ciaos in River state led to the death of one person.
In Delta state, the ward congress could not hold as one person was stabbed to death and party members disrupted the process alleging manipulations by some party members to rig the ward congress.
In Ekiti State, it was more of protest scene than an election scene as aggrieved party members were seen turning the ballot boxes upside down and using it as football.
In Imo state, the story is not different, the APC secretariat doors was not even open as party members stood outside.
The story is the same everywhere apart from the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara and Kastina States which recorded peaceful congress.
The question that begs to be answered is why do impositions of candidate exist? Why in an internal party local elections?
The reason why the various congresses at the states level are failing is because of the lack of free and fair transparent ward congress elections. Those politicians that find themselves at the corridors of powers today want to use the privilege of their position to impose candidates on other party members through shady dealings. The answer is that Nigerian politicians are power drunk. This is very wrong and should be resisted as it has been so far. The masses should be free to make input in the selection of their representatives because it is their right.
It is appalling that internal party election will result in deaths as it is now across two states. This is a warning signs and those in authority should take these signs serious and warn their subordinates to desist from candidate imposition. It foists violence and cracks the democracy we nurture and makes Nigeria democracy a laughing stock.
There must be sanctity in our elections, as we await the 2019 general election, the presidency must warn his officials and security agents from interfering in elections but rather be a positive participant in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections. The INEC electoral umpire must be on alert to monitor the current trends and work tirelessly to ensure that current internal party wrangling do not present itself in the general elections.
People should be held accountable for their actions as it relates to the deaths of the two young men. This will act as a deterrent to others.
This is the expression of myview.