The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has appraised the ongoing primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections as the most competitive internal party process in Nigeria’s political history.
He said the process reflected the increasing national acceptance and expansion of the All Progressives Congress party across the country.
Professor Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State, where he also briefed the President on the conduct of the party’s nationwide primaries and internal consensus-building process.
According to the APC National Chairman, the intense competition for limited elective positions within the party demonstrates the APC’s deepening political penetration and appeal across Nigeria.
“The assessment is very simple. You can see how competitive our party has become in terms of demand and supply. We have few positions, yet thousands of people across the country are seeking to contest under the APC platform. It is the most competitive process in Nigeria’s political history,” he said.
Professor Yilwatda noted that the high level of participation by aspirants and party supporters reflects the confidence Nigerians have continued to place in the APC as the preferred political platform for leadership and governance.
He commended party members and supporters for what he described as a disciplined and rancour-free primary election process, despite isolated complaints from some quarters.
“It’s near perfect, very organised and has minimal complaints. Complaints are normal in every electoral process, but what we have seen so far has been largely peaceful and orderly,” he added.
Addressing concerns over consensus arrangements and direct primaries in some states, the APC Chairman maintained that the party strictly adhered to its constitutional guidelines and electoral procedures.
“Our guidelines on consensus are very clear. Where consensus fails, we go for direct primaries. No state was forced into consensus because aspirants are required to voluntarily sign consensus forms before the process proceeds,” he explained.
Professor Yilwatda also acknowledged the possibility of post-primary grievances but assured party members that the APC had established internal mechanisms to manage disputes and reconcile aggrieved aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We have internal conflict resolution mechanisms, including the Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee and the Party Conflict Resolution Committee. Elections naturally come with emotions and disappointments, but we are already focusing on early reconciliation and healing so we can move into the campaign season united and victorious in 2027,” he said.
The APC National Chairman further disclosed that President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the logistics, organisation and reduced level of violence recorded during the primaries across the country.
According to him, the President particularly commended the National Working Committee for deploying extensive logistics and enforcing party regulations with firmness and fairness.
“He was very impressed with the logistics we deployed nationwide and the reduced incidents of conflict during the process. I also want to thank Mr President for the moral backing he has given the National Working Committee to ensure the party’s regulations are enforced to the letter,” Yilwatda stated.
