Chief Joshua MacIver, Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Governorship election in Bayelsa on Saturday called for urgent steps to resolve internal imbalances to avoid exit of party loyalists.

He called on party leaders to “look inwards” and address internal divisions following the conclusion of the party’s state congress.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa, MacIver congratulated party leadership and members a successful congress, while also extending best wishes to the newly elected state chairman, Warman Ogoriba, and his executive.

However, the APC stalwart warned that unresolved internal imbalances could threaten the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that prior to the entry of Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, into the APC, the party had been largely dominated by a major bloc, consisting about 95 percent of the membership, alongside a smaller faction.

MacIver claimed that since the governor’s defection, party affairs have increasingly favoured the smaller bloc, leaving the larger faction sidelined.

According to him, this imbalance has already contributed to a wave of defections and could trigger further exits if not urgently addressed.

“The consequence of this has been the high level of defection we have witnessed recently, and more may follow if we do not put our house in order,” he said.

He warned that key stakeholders could leave the party after upcoming primaries if grievances persist.

In spite of the concerns, MacIver reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing loyalty to the president as “non-negotiable.”

He further explained that unity within the party would be critical to achieving that goal, cautioning against creating “loopholes” that rival political interests could exploit.

“Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr. President.

“But we must ensure that we do not create conditions that will impede our collective ambition,” he said.

MacIver advised party leaders in Bayelsa to adopt a more inclusive approach in managing internal affairs, emphasizing that the APC must consolidate its ranks to remain competitive in future elections.