LISTEN NOW OR REGRET LATER: WHY APC KWARA MUST ENGAGE EVERY AGGRIEVED GROUP BEFORE 2027;
By S.O. Mansur, MNIOB, CPFMP
Politics is not won by assumptions. Elections are not won by silence. Political victories are not sustained by dismissing genuine concerns. History has repeatedly shown that when a political party becomes too comfortable with past victories and refuses to listen to its members, the seeds of future defeat are already being planted.
Today, the APC in Kwara State stands at a very critical crossroads.
The party has undoubtedly recorded notable achievements under the leadership of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. However, no achievement is strong enough to withstand the consequences of unresolved internal grievances. No political structure is too powerful to survive prolonged discontent among its grassroots supporters.
Across the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State, there are aggrieved groups, dissatisfied stakeholders, disappointed party loyalists, neglected youths, marginalized women groups, and concerned community leaders. Some feel excluded from decision-making processes. Others believe the sacrifices they made for the party have not been acknowledged. Many are silently nursing grievances while remaining within the party fold.
The greatest mistake any leadership can make is to interpret silence as satisfaction.
In politics, people rarely forget how they were treated. They may remain quiet today, attend meetings tomorrow, and even wear party uniforms next week. But when election day arrives, their true feelings are expressed through their votes, their level of mobilization, or their refusal to participate.
The APC must therefore understand a simple political truth: every aggrieved group represents a potential threat if ignored and a valuable asset if reconciled.
The pathway to 2027 should not begin with campaign posters, endorsements, or declarations. It should begin with sincere reconciliation, honest conversations, and deliberate efforts to unite all factions under a common purpose.
Party leaders must create platforms where grievances can be openly discussed without intimidation. Stakeholders must be encouraged to speak honestly. Complaints should not be viewed as acts of disloyalty but as opportunities to strengthen the party.
A political party becomes stronger when it listens.
The opposition may not appear formidable today, but history teaches that ruling parties are often defeated not by their opponents but by internal divisions, arrogance, and failure to address legitimate concerns. The greatest danger to APC in 2027 may not come from outside the party; it may come from the accumulation of unresolved grievances within.
This is why the time for reconciliation is now.
Every ward, every local government, every stakeholder group, every youth movement, every women organization, and every aggrieved bloc deserves a listening ear. The leadership must embark on a statewide reconciliation and engagement process that prioritizes unity over ego, inclusion over exclusion, and dialogue over silence.
The cost of reconciliation is far cheaper than the cost of defeat.
As party faithful, we have a responsibility to speak the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Loyalty does not mean silence in the face of warning signs. True loyalty means drawing attention to potential dangers before they become irreversible crises.
Kwara APC has the opportunity to emerge stronger, more united, and better prepared for 2027. But this can only happen if genuine efforts are made to heal wounds, rebuild trust, and restore confidence among all stakeholders.
The message is simple:
Listen to the aggrieved. Engage the dissatisfied. Reconcile the divided. Unite the party.
Because if APC Kwara fails to listen today, the electorate may deliver a verdict in 2027 that nobody anticipated.
And by then, it may be too late.
S.O. Mansur, MNIOB, CPFMP,
Concerned Party Stakeholder and Advocate for Unity, Inclusion, and Sustainable Political Development in Kwara State.
