The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, formally assumed office at the national secretariat, declaring that 2027 presidential election is a done deal for the ruling party.
The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management spoke in his inaugural meeting with the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) after arriving the Buhari House on a Land Cruiser car by 4.25pm.
He announced that under his watch, the door of the party will be thrown wide open to new members from the opposition parties, particularly other party members from both chambers of the National Assembly, into the ruling party.
He said,: “I appreciate Nigerians supporting APC, standing by APC, our doors are open to welcome members, new members, our doors are open, we look forward to having more governors, more senators, more National Assembly members, more local government chairman and more members of the party, into our party. We expand beyond bounds. I.am sure by God’s grace, Imam sure the 2027 is a done deal for APC,” he assured.
While appealing to his NWC members and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) not to sabotage him, he claimed that working with unity of purpose, the ruling party will be the joy, pride and bright light of the entire nation.
“It is our collective effort and I am sure by the time we put our hands on the deck collectively, this party will be great. This party will be the joy, the pride and the bright of the entire nation and that is what I look forward to this party becoming under our collective leadership.”
“I count it a rare privilege and I must appreciate God, appreciate the leadership of our party, appreciate our governors, National Assembly, NWC members and all the teaming loyal supporters of APC for resting this burden of trust on me.
“I count it a trust and a burden at the same time because it’s quite heavy, it’s large, I know that I have people around me, veterans, supporters, friends as members of NWC. I have worked with them before, virtually I have met all the members of NWC, I have met them in person, one other form of service or the other, here to monitor election or going for primary election elsewhere or doing campaign in several states together with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Festus Faunter, has formally resigned his position in the early hours of Thursday.
Faunter’s resignation was based on the emergence of the new National Chairman Yilwatda, who is from the state, Plateau, with him.
The resignation was in line with the statute of the ruling party which stipute that two national officers cannot come from the same state.
Already, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, SAN, has been appointed by the stakeholders during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
In his remarks, the chairman of PGF, Hope Uzodimma who moved motion for the emergence of the new chairman, said that he saw bright future for the party.
“As we turn this page, it is imperative that we quickly move to nominate a capable and unifying replacement, someone who can build on the foundation laid and help reposition the party to its rightful place of pride in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“I would also want to commend the notable progress made on the party’s membership e-registration exercise. This is very vital to step in in the deepening of internal democracy, ensuring credible data-driven planning, and opening new channels of inclusion for millions of Nigerians who wish to identify with APC.
“The advantages of this innovation are far-reaching and timely, and as we modernize our operations and prepare for future engagements, we wish to encourage this exercise. The future of APC is bright. The leadership of President Bola Tinubu continues to inspire a renewed confidence in governance,” he said.
