The ruling APRC party, has issued a stern warning that would-be dissidents within it ranks who opt to contest the upcoming Local Government elections as independent candidates risk a ten-year ban from the APRC.

The party's warning comes amid reports that some stalwarts of the party will be contesting the said elections on independent tickets as a result of their failure to have their candidature endorsed by the party.

Below we reproduce the press release issued by the APRC Secretariat and signed by Adama Cham, the party's administrative secretary.

The National Coordinating Committee of APRC under the leadership of the national chairman and party leader wishes to remind all applicants who applied for sponsorship of the party for the Local Government Elections that they have made commitments to support whoever is selected by the party as its official candidate. They are futher informed that there is No Independent APRC.

Any person who opposes the party's official candidate because of not being selected is strictly warned that they are undermining the unity and authority of the party.

Therefore as a disciplinary measure, they will be banned from the Party's elective offices and other appointments for a period not less than 10 ten years.