Disenfranchisement Plot: Ibaji People Demand Justice from Errant APC Leaders

The growing disenfranchisement of the people of Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi State by some of their own All Progressives Congress APC, political leaders has emerged as a grave concern for well-meaning citizens, stakeholders, and democracy advocates across Kogi State, raising fears that the very custodians of power are betraying their mandate to serve and protect.

According to a statement issued and made available to newsmen by baji Concerned Group, it is particularly disheartening to witness these APC  leaders, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of representing and safeguarding the interests of their constituents, allegedly wielding government influence and authority not to uplift the masses but to suppress and marginalise the very citizens they swore to serve, thereby eroding the foundations of trust and accountability in governance.

The convener, Mr. Jocob Omale, noted This alarming trend, which contravenes the spirit and letters of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, manifests in brazen acts such as the endorsement of a candidate in a private residence without the knowledge or consent of other contestants, Local Government Area stakeholders, or broader constituency representatives, all under the spurious claim of acting on “government instructions.”

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Such manipulations extend to the deliberate orchestration of citizens against established party processes, the intimidation and harassment of critical stakeholders who dare to speak out, and the systematic sidelining of entire communities or individuals from meaningful political participation, actions that strike at the heart of democratic principles built on fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, and the unhindered free expression of the people’s will.

When political leaders resort to deploying the machinery of government to marginalise their own people, the consequences ripple far beyond Ibaji, fostering deep-seated distrust in governance structures, shattering public confidence in democratic institutions, and depriving residents of their inalienable constitutional rights to freely choose representatives and actively participate in the affairs that shape their destiny.

This not only undermines the democratic experiment in Nigeria’s nascent Fourth Republic but also poses a profound threat to peace, unity, and social cohesion within the local government, as political exclusion inevitably sows seeds of resentment, division, and potential conflict that could derail development initiatives, stall infrastructure projects, and hinder the progress desperately needed in this agrarian community.

It is therefore imperative for all relevant authorities, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, security agencies, and higher political party leadership, to swing into action with urgency, conducting thorough investigations into these allegations, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice prevails without fear or favour.

Political leaders must be reminded, in no uncertain terms, that leadership is a divine call to selfless service and empowerment, not a licence for oppression, tyranny, or the subjugation of the electorate.

The resilient people of Ibaji deserve nothing less than a transparent, fair, and truly inclusive political system where every voice is heard and every vote counts; any attempt to hijack government machinery for disenfranchisement must be roundly condemned and decisively addressed without delay to safeguard democracy, restore faith in institutions, and pave the way for sustainable development in the area.