Tein Jack-Rich, a prominent politician, has called on the All Progressives Congress to stop pushing aside its founding members in favour of politicians who recently joined the party.
Jack-Rich said the APC risks losing its identity and the loyalty of long-standing members if it continues to elevate newcomers to positions of power and influence at the expense of those who built the party from its inception.
The politician stressed that the party must honour those who sacrificed and worked to establish the APC as a force in Nigerian politics. He argued that founding members deserve recognition and positions commensurate with their contributions and years of service.
Jack-Rich's warning comes amid reports of internal tensions within the APC over how party positions and opportunities are distributed. Several founding members have expressed frustration over what they see as a pattern of marginalisation as the party brings in prominent figures from other political platforms.
He noted that abandoning founding members for new defectors sends a demoralising signal to the party faithful and undermines the principles upon which the party was established. Jack-Rich called for a deliberate policy that recognises the efforts of those who held the APC together during its formative years.
The politician's remarks reflect a broader concern within the party about balancing the need to accommodate new members with the imperative of rewarding loyalty and long-term commitment. Party analysts say the tension between old and new members could affect the APC's cohesion as it approaches future elections.
Jack-Rich did not rule out continued recruitment of new members but insisted that this must not come at the cost of sidelining those who have been with the party since its foundation.
