The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has addressed concerns over the political disagreements involving some APC governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda said the ruling party would not allow disagreements between its members and political mobilisation groups to undermine its preparations for the next general elections.
He disclosed that the APC had established internal structures and reconciliation mechanisms to resolve disputes among its members, adding that dialogue and cooperation remained the party’s preferred approach to managing the situation.
The APC chairman made this known during an interview with Vanguard, where he discussed the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the state of the economy and the growing political activities ahead of the polls.
Politics Nigeria earlier reported the disagreement involving some APC governors and Wike’s Rainbow Coalition ahead of the next presidential election.
However, Yilwatda maintained that different political groups could work towards the same objective without creating unnecessary divisions within the party.
He explained that the APC leadership would encourage stakeholders to put aside personal interests and concentrate on securing victory for President Tinubu and the party in 2027.
According to him, political mobilisation may take different forms, but such activities must complement the party’s existing structures rather than create rivalry among its members.
“The APChas established organs and procedures for managing internal disagreements. We intend to use those mechanisms to promote consultation, clarify responsibilities and ensure that our collective campaign effort is properly coordinated,” he said.
The APC chairman added that the party would not consider every disagreement among its members a major crisis, insisting that what mattered was the ability of the leadership to manage differences before they affected the party’s overall objectives.
He further explained that the party would rely on dialogue, reconciliation and coordination to address any misunderstanding between its stakeholders.
Yilwatda also responded to concerns about whether the disagreements could eventually weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He acknowledged that the party had different interests and political tendencies because of its size, but said such differences were expected in a large political organisation.
According to him, the APC has governors, ministers, lawmakers, party executives and millions of members across the country, making disagreements over political interests and internal arrangements unavoidable.
However, he insisted that such differences should not develop into permanent divisions capable of affecting the party’s electoral preparations.
“As National Chairman, I take every concern about unity within the party seriously,” he said.
He maintained that the common objective of supporting Tinubu’s administration and preparing for the 2027 elections should encourage members to resolve their differences.
Yilwatda also said unity within the APC did not necessarily mean that every member must agree on all political matters.
He explained that members could hold different opinions while remaining committed to the party’s collective interests and respecting its established procedures.
Beyond the internal disagreements, the APC chairman dismissed suggestions that the growing number of opposition politicians joining the ruling party could turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
He said the APC had no intention of eliminating opposition parties or preventing other political organisations from competing for power.
Yilwatda argued that politicians had the constitutional right to move from one political party to another, provided their decisions were voluntary and in accordance with the law.
He maintained that a strong ruling party could coexist with a competitive multiparty democracy.
According to him, the responsibility of sustaining a healthy political environment should not rest on the APC alone, as opposition parties also needed to strengthen their structures, develop credible policies and build public confidence.
“Our ambition is not to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Our ambition is to build a party that Nigerians freely choose because of its leadership, programmes and record of performance,” he stated.
On the performance of the Tinubu administration since assuming office in 2023, Yilwatda defended the economic reforms introduced by the President.
He listed the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, tax changes, infrastructure investments and interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians among the major policies pursued by the administration.
The APC chairman said the measures were designed to address longstanding structural problems in the Nigerian economy and create conditions for sustainable growth.
However, he acknowledged that the government needed to do more to ensure that Nigerians experienced the benefits of the reforms in their daily lives.
He identified job creation, affordable food, improved incomes, better security and stronger public services as areas requiring greater attention.
Yilwatda said the Renewed Hope Agenda should not be assessed only by the policies introduced by the administration but also by the improvements Nigerians could see in their living conditions.
On poverty reduction, he said the government had introduced several interventions to support vulnerable households, improve agricultural production, expand access to education and credit, and create opportunities for small businesses.
He, however, admitted that poverty reduction remained an ongoing responsibility and that more needed to be done to improve the purchasing power of workers and provide sustainable employment.
The APC chairman also addressed criticisms that the economic policies of the Tinubu administration had increased hardship across the country.
He acknowledged that many Nigerians were still struggling with the effects of economic adjustments but insisted that the government must continue improving the implementation of its policies.
He said economic reforms should be supported by social protection programmes, increased local production, better infrastructure and employment opportunities.
Yilwatda maintained that the government could not claim to have achieved all its objectives while many citizens were still experiencing difficulties.
“Renewed Hope must be more than a slogan. It must become a daily experience reflected in affordable food, better incomes, secure communities, reliable infrastructure and expanding opportunities for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, the APC chairman urged Nigerians to focus on candidates’ records, character and capacity to deliver rather than allow political differences to create division.
He advised President Tinubu to remain focused on governance, sustain the economic reforms and intensify efforts to tackle insecurity.
He also called on political parties and their supporters to avoid violence as preparations for the elections continue.
Yilwatda said the 2027 elections should provide an opportunity for political parties to present their programmes and convince Nigerians through their records and proposals.
He stressed that political competition should not lead to the destruction of property, loss of innocent lives or threats to national unity.
On the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he said the APC respected the commission’s constitutional responsibilities and operational independence.
He explained that the party would study the electoral guidelines and comply with the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act.
Yilwatda also called for transparent electoral procedures, credible voter registration, proper accreditation processes and the effective deployment of technology during the elections.
He concluded that the APC wanted an electoral process that would be peaceful, credible and acceptable to Nigerians.