By Musa Paul Feika
The National Secretary of the Council of Affiliate Groups for Electoral Justice, Mr. James Mansaray, has urged supporters of the Electoral Justice campaign within the All People’s Congress (APC) to remain patient and steadfast, describing their struggle as a “marathon race” that requires endurance rather than immediate political gains.
Speaking during an interview on Amaza TV Online, Mansaray said supporters should not abandon their campaign despite the challenges and setbacks they may have encountered, insisting that there was still hope of achieving what the movement considers electoral justice within the APC.
“Hold on, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is a marathon race,” Mansaray said.
He urged members of the movement to exercise patience, arguing that political struggles are not always resolved quickly and that abandoning their cause prematurely could undermine their broader objectives.
Mansaray said the Electoral Justice campaign was driven by what he described as the need to address grievances surrounding the June 24, 2023 multi-tier elections and to promote a more credible and accountable political process within the APC and the wider democratic system.
According to him, the movement’s commitment to electoral justice should not be measured by its participation in a particular political event, but by its determination to pursue what its members believe is right for the party and its grassroots supporters.
The APC has in recent months continued to face internal debates over its leadership, organisational structures and the direction of the party ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Against this backdrop, Mansaray’s call for patience appears to signal that the Electoral Justice movement is prepared to continue its campaign despite ongoing political developments within the opposition party.
Mansaray also claimed that the movement enjoys considerable support among APC grassroots members and delegates. He alleged that approximately 1,100 out of the 1,374 delegates he associated with the party are aligned with the Electoral Justice campaign.
“We in the Electoral Justice campaign have close to 1,100 delegates with us,” he claimed. The figure, however, remains a claim by the movement and has not been independently verified.
Despite claiming significant grassroots support, Mansaray said the Electoral Justice movement would not participate in the APC’s anticipated National Delegates Conference under the current circumstances.
He stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the APC, maintaining that members of the movement remain stakeholders in the party.
“We are APC stakeholders,” he said, arguing that the movement could still play a role in rebuilding the party if its stakeholders eventually come together to address its internal challenges.
Mansaray further called for the APC to return to what he described as the “drawing board” and resolve its internal problems before moving forward.
For him, the pursuit of electoral justice remains more important than immediate political participation.
He maintained that supporters should not allow delays or setbacks to discourage them, suggesting that political and institutional struggles require time, patience and determination.
“Justice sometimes can delay in coming,” Mansaray said, arguing that justice can take time to achieve, particularly where competing interests within a political organization makes the resolution of internal disputes difficult.
As the APC looks towards the 2028 presidential election, Mansaray warned that unresolved internal divisions could have consequences for the party’s political prospects. He nevertheless stressed the importance of unity among APC stakeholders, while maintaining that unity should not come at the expense of the movement’s demand for what it considers electoral justice.
Mansaray’s remarks therefore present a delicate position for the Electoral Justice campaign: while its supporters remain committed to the APC, the movement is unwilling, at least for now to participate in a process it believes does not adequately address its concerns.
His “marathon race” analogy has consequently become a central message to supporters urging them to endure, remain committed and resist the temptation to abandon the struggle for short-term political accommodation.
As preparations and internal discussions surrounding the APC’s future continue, the movement’s stance could become an important factor in the party’s efforts to consolidate its grassroots base ahead of 2028.
For Mansaray, however, the struggle is bigger than a single conference or individual political ambition. He presented it as a campaign aimed at strengthening internal democracy, restoring confidence among grassroots supporters and ensuring that the APC moves forward on what he considers a credible foundation.
“This country needs to be clean. This country needs to move forward,” Mansaray said.