The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed claims that the ruling party has commenced early campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His clarification comes after warnings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police that some political parties were engaging in premature electioneering in violation of electoral laws.
Speaking on national television yesterday, Yilwatda insisted the APC remains law-abiding and has not breached any provisions.
“I don’t know of other parties, but for APC, we have not embarked on any campaign activities,” he said. “What we are doing is membership mobilisation, which is a regular and continuous activity of any political party. If we were running foul of the law, INEC would have written to warn us. To the best of my knowledge, we have not received such a letter.”
The APC chairman downplayed reports of defections within the party, describing them as “minimal,” while stressing that more lawmakers, governors, and politicians from other parties are defecting to the APC.
He also reaffirmed that all organs of the party, stakeholders, and members across the six geopolitical zones have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“Governors, members of the National Assembly, critical stakeholders of the party all of them have endorsed him as the only single candidate,” Yilwatda said, noting that Tinubu would still be subject to confirmation at the party’s convention.
Dismissing opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as weak and disorganised, Yilwatda argued they pose no threat to Tinubu’s re-election bid. He added that Nigerians remain supportive of the APC despite economic challenges.
“The same Nigerians who voted for us in the by-elections and gave us majority wins will still vote APC. The economy is improving, security is improving, access to education is improving, and social security is improving,” he said.
