By: Gbenga Akingbule
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on Saturday dismissed the growing activities of opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as no threat to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that Yilwatda also said the APC is steadily making inroads into the South, particularly in areas traditionally regarded as strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressing confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate, will win the 2027 election.
This was made know during a press conference shortly after the four -day retreat of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC alongside it’s state Chairmen held in Maiduguri , the Borno State capital.
According to Yilwatda, the ruling party had no reason to be worried by developments in the opposition, stressing that ADC and the NDC were no match for the overwhelming popularity and continued support enjoyed by the APC across the North and other parts of the country.
The APC National Chairman further buttressed his point by citing last year defeat of the ADC in the hometown of its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, where the APC secured victory.
The election last year in Adamawa State in Ganye Local Government , where former Vice president Atiku comes from, APC won the election there . We’ve won elections in places that were traditionally not our stronghold in the North like Taraba state .
” We had election in Kano , we won it , we had election in Bauchi we won it , we had election in Gombe , we won it , so where is the threat coming from? ” Yilwatda asked .
The party chairman said the attention being given to the ADC and NDC was largely driven by media propaganda, insisting that their touted popularity did not reflect their actual political strength across the North and other parts of the country. He maintained that the APC remained firmly on the ground, with a strong support base and widespread acceptance in all parts of Nigeria.
” The media propaganda is different from the actual boots on ground when it comes to election day. We’ve had all the TV discussion about the opposition, NDC, ADC, making inroads, but as far as I’m concerned they ( ADC and NDC) are mere participants in 2027 elections they are not contesting with us – so we’re very confident that our party will win the 2027 elections ” .
While reading out the resolutions of the retreat, the party also passed a vote of confidence in ” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, and all the other candidates of our party that were elected during the primary election for the 2027 general election. We strongly believe that we produced some of the most credible candidates, most acceptable, and the most prepared to be elected to serve the people of Nigeria
” The party also had a deep dive into the party at the state—at the national, state, local government, ward, down to polling unit. And after we reviewed the performance of the party, we gave a clean bill of health to the APC as a party. We feel strongly that the party is strong, the party is healthy, the party is prepared, and the party is oiled for the 2027 general election.” The APC National Chairman said .
