By Barr Abdul Waheed Lawal
Occasionally, one cannot but refer to those worked against the party either by doing or not doing the right thing
The rate at which party leaders and members violate the APC Constitution is alarming. Some don’t even have copies of the APC Constitution.
To prevent impunity and promote accountability within political parties, it’s essential to respect and adhere to the party’s constitution and internal democratic rules. Every member of executive must have a copy of the APC Constitution. Any aspirant who has neither the APC Constitution nor having read same should not be allowed to purchase nomination form. Or in the alternative, party constitution should be sold along with expression of interest form.
While ruminating over the above, I remember also the precedent set by the APC leaders and members throughout the country in 2023 particularly in Oyo State. It has been one of anti-party activities and disloyalty, with no consequences for those involved.
Unfortunately, this culture of impunity is not unique to the APC, as it’s prevalent in many Nigerian political parties. The lack of accountability and punishment for anti-party activities undermines the party’s constitution and interests. PDP tops the list of parties where impunity reigns.
To address this issue, it’s crucial to establish a system of checks and balances within parties. This can be achieved by:
Strengthening Internal Democracy: Ensuring that party members have a say in decision-making processes and that leaders are held accountable for their actions.
Secondly, we must enforcing Party Constitutions by Establishing clear consequences for anti-party activities and ensuring that those who violate the constitution are punished accordingly.
Things must not continue like this. We must promote Transparency and Accountability in everything we do. A lot of people were giving campaign money and money for logistics to monitor elections. Nobody was called to give accounts including candidates who contested and lost. Let us encourage transparency in party finances, decision-making processes, and leadership selection.
By implementing these measures, political parties can promote a culture of accountability and transparency, reducing the likelihood of impunity and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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