APC chieftain calls Yilwatda against ceding party dtructures to govs

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, not to surrender control of party structures to incumbent governors ahead of upcoming nationwide congresses.

The APC is set to hold ward, local government, and state congresses, which will determine the leadership of the party at grassroots and state levels in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Wednesday, Nabena warned that allowing governors to dominate party structures could spark internal crises and erode the party’s grassroots support. He said handing over control from the ward to the state level would “breed resentment, deprive genuine party members, and eventually drive away the few remaining masses in the APC.”

He stressed the importance of engaging the party’s base, noting that “the 2027 general elections are about the masses against the few people in the corridors of power, hence the masses must be carried along.”

Nabena also raised concerns that the NWC might hand over nomination forms directly to governors, who could then select preferred candidates, bypassing party members. “This move will not end well. It is likely to trigger an internal crisis and could lead to an implosion of the party,” he warned.

Highlighting that many NWC members were appointed rather than elected, Nabena urged the committee to ensure transparency by making nomination forms accessible to all aspirants at every level.

He further called on APC elders and leaders to speak up and guide the NWC to avoid mistakes, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and prevent a looming internal conflict.

“The APC once had about 40 million registered members, but we are now struggling to reach 10 million in the ongoing electronic registration. This situation demands caution and wise action to protect the party’s future,” Nabena added.