The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to the newly elected national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, cautioning him against exploiting his insider knowledge of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate future elections in favour of the ruling party.
In a statement released on Friday, ADC spokesperson Bola Abdullahi said Yilwatda’s previous position as a Resident Electoral Commissioner placed him in a unique position of influence, one that must be used to uphold electoral integrity rather than compromise it.
“We take note of Professor Yilwatda’s previous role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust. We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch,” Abdullahi said.
The opposition party also criticized President Bola Tinubu for allowing the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting — where Yilwatda was elected — to be held inside the Aso Villa, a public facility funded by taxpayers.
“This is why we must register our dismay that the very National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office was held within the confines of the State House — a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence,” Abdullahi noted.
He continued, “The decision of the ruling party to host its party meeting at the seat of government is an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability. We urge the new Chairman to guide his party towards respecting the line — now dangerously blurred — between party and state.”
Mr. Abdullahi further urged Yilwatda to foster an environment where opposition parties can thrive without fear or intimidation.
“We expect that under the stewardship of the new Chairman, the APC and the federal government it controls will start to show greater tolerance for opposition voices and alternative viewpoints with the understanding that in a democracy, disagreement is not sabotage, and criticism is not subversion,” he said.
The ADC’s statement comes just a day after Professor Yilwatda, who also serves as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was elected to replace Abdullahi Ganduje as APC national chairman. Ganduje resigned earlier, citing health concerns.
Born on August 8, 1968, Yilwatda served as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State between 2017 and 2021. He was also the APC governorship candidate in Plateau State in 2023 but lost to Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
