The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has insisted that political groups supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election must complement the ruling party’s established structures rather than create rival centres of influence.
Yilwatda made the declaration amid disagreements between some APC governors and the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, the APC chairman said the party had established procedures for resolving disagreements and would rely on dialogue, reconciliation and coordination to manage competing political interests.
He stressed that the success of Tinubu and the APC in the coming elections should remain the overriding objective of governors, ministers, party officials and other stakeholders.
According to him, differences over political structures, influence and mobilisation strategies must not be allowed to undermine the ruling party’s electoral preparations.
“No personal or group interest should be allowed to outweigh the collective interest of the APC,” Yilwatda said.
He, however, cautioned against describing every disagreement among political stakeholders as a crisis.
Addressing concerns that the growing movement of opposition politicians into the APC could turn Nigeria into a one-party state, Yilwatda rejected the suggestion.
He maintained that the ruling party had no intention of eliminating political opposition, arguing that a strong APC could coexist with a competitive multiparty democracy.
The chairman also assessed Tinubu’s economic policies, acknowledging that the administration still needed to translate its reforms into measurable improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
He identified job creation, affordable food, improved incomes, stronger public services and better security as critical tests of the administration’s performance.
Yilwatda said Nigerians should judge political leaders by their records, character and ability to deliver results, adding that the APC must remain accountable to the people beyond winning elections.
