A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Hon. Crosby Osadolor Eribo, has called on the party leadership to institute a structured reward system for loyal members and adopt zoning arrangements to deepen unity and improve grassroots electoral performance.
Eribo, an aspirant for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency seat, made the call on Monday while formally declaring his intention to contest in the 2027 general election at the APC secretariat in Egor local government area of the state.
The visibly emotional party stalwart reflected on the early struggles that laid the foundation of the party, lamenting that many founding members had either been sidelined or had passed on without recognition.
He stressed that the sacrifices of what he described as “organic members” who built the party structure from scratch must not be ignored, warning that continued neglect could weaken the APC’s grassroots base ahead of future elections.
“We know how we started this party from nothing. There were no facilities, no support, yet people remained committed. Those who worked for the party should benefit from it,” he said.
Eribo criticised a situation where individuals who did not contribute to the party’s growth emerge during election cycles to reap benefits, describing it as unjust and demoralising to loyal members.
Recounting his personal experience, the aspirant alleged that he was deliberately denied swearing-in as a member of the Edo State House of Assembly for four years due to his loyalty to the APC, noting that he nevertheless remained steadfast in the party.