2027: APC Issues Ultimatum to Tinubu's Team: Back Us or Step Down

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has issued a stern warning to its political appointees, stating that they cannot claim to be technocrats while holding political positions, and must be prepared to mobilise support for the party or relinquish their offices, as emphasized by APC national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

n

This warning was given on Wednesday in Abuja, when Professor Yilwatda received a delegation from the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, led by Dr Mustafa Jibrin, Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government in Niger State, who briefed him on the group's grassroots mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.

n

Professor Yilwatda noted that local government chairmen, being closer to the people, are better positioned to identify appointees who are failing to deliver politically in their wards, despite their administrative performance in office, saying "it is you who will tell me that this commissioner is not working, maybe he is working in the office, but politically he is zero in his ward."

n

He compared appointees who claim to be technocrats despite holding political positions to individuals who deny their ethnic identity, stating "we call them political appointees, there is a word 'political' there, they are not just technocrats, they are political appointees, you can’t be holding a political position and then say you are not a politician."

n

Professor Yilwatda emphasized that appointees who wish to avoid politics should decline political appointments, as the party's mobilisation efforts rely on votes, not office holders who see themselves as mere administrators, saying "if you don’t want to be a politician, don’t take a political appointment, we work to mobilise votes, without the votes, you can’t be in office."

n

He assured the local government chairmen of the party's full support for their mobilisation activities, including plans to inaugurate state coordinators and organise a mass endorsement rally for President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, stating "we will support you, we will stand by you, we will ensure that we have a strong partnership that will give this party a strong victory in 2027."

n

Professor Yilwatda pledged that the party would personally join any mobilisation efforts organised by the forum without waiting for formal invitations, likening reluctance to participate to someone who is hungry but insists on being invited before eating.

n

Earlier, Dr Jibrin had informed Professor Yilwatda that the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum has the backing of over 685 local government chairmen and 31 state governors, and is targeting at least 70 per cent of votes cast in the 2027 election for the APC.

n

Dr Jibrin also disclosed that the forum enjoys the support of Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, who nominated him to lead the group, and plans to mobilise all 685 council chairmen, alongside their councillors, for a formal endorsement of President Tinubu's re-election bid on a date to be fixed by the national chairman.