The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned newly elected chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, against using his knowledge as former staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission to game the system in favour of his party.

Bola Abdullahi, spokesperson for the opposition party, in a statement on Friday, said Mr Yilwatda must desist from using his knowledge of the workings of the electoral umpire to favour his party.

“We take note of Professor Yilwatda’s previous role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust. We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch,” Mr Abdullahi said.

The ADC spokesperson also lashed out at President Bola Tinubu for conducting APC National Executive Committee meeting in Aso Villa, a public office funded with tax payers money.

“This is why we must register our dismay that the very National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office was held within the confines of the State House — a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence,” Mr Abdullahi said.

He added, “The decision of the ruling party to host its party meeting at the seat of government is an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability. We urge the new Chairman to guide his party towards respecting the line — now dangerously blurred — between party and state.”

Mr Abdullahi further said, “We expect that under the stewardship of the new Chairman, the APC and the federal government it controls will start to show greater tolerance for opposition voices and alternative viewpoints with the understanding that in a democracy, disagreement is not sabotage, and criticism is not subversion.”

ADC statement comes barely 24 hours after Mr Yilwatda, humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction minister, emerged new chairman of the APC, succeeding former Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who had earlier resigned over health reasons. 

Born on August 8, 1968, Mr Yilwatda, before venturing into politics, served as INEC resident electoral commissioner in Benue between 2017-2021.

In 2023, he was APC governorship candidate in Plateau election but lost to Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party.