Nigerians love APC, happy with what party is doing: Yilwatda

Nantewe Yilwatda, APC chair, says the party is unconcerned about Mr Peter Obi’s defection from the ADC to the NDC.

News Agency of Nigeria • May 7, 2026

APC rally[Credit:21st CENTURY CHRONICLE]

Nantewe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, says the party is unconcerned about federal lawmakers’ defection from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Mr Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during the purchase and submission of APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 elections.

Mr Yilwatda said opposition parties should resolve their internal disputes, insisting their crises had nothing to do with the APC. He described the defection of about 18 National Assembly members from ADC to NDC as insignificant and incapable of threatening the ruling party.

“If someone defects from ADC to NDC or another opposition party, that does not affect APC. Let them sort out their problems. APC remains solid, and we are moving forward with strong numbers.

“You talked about NDC. When people join APC, they claim we paid them, but when they defect among themselves, nobody says anything. None of those defecting is from our party. They are fishing from the same pond,” the APC national chairman stated.

Speaking on the ongoing sale of nomination forms, Mr Yilwatda said the large turnout reflected Nigerians’ growing support for the APC.

“Nigerians are happy with what the APC is doing. They love and accept the party across all geopolitical zones. We are encouraged by the large number of people coming out to purchase our forms,” he added.

Mr Yilwatda said the party was well organised and adequately prepared for the 2027 general elections.

“This can only happen in APC, and we are pleased to witness it under our administration,” he said.

The APC chairman ruled out extending the deadline for purchasing and submitting forms, citing constraints imposed by the electoral act.

“We would have loved to extend the time, but we are time-bound. The electoral act limits the timeframe for conducting primaries and submitting results. We also want to avoid unnecessary complications,” Mr Yilwatda explained.

He added that measures would be introduced during aspirants’ screening to reduce overcrowding and ensure a smooth exercise.

(NAN)

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