The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Nantewe Yilwatda, has allayed fears over the defection of Peter Obi from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, saying the development does not pose any threat to the ruling party.
Yilwatda made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing sale and submission of APC nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the developments in opposition parties, the APC chairman said any internal crisis in the opposition groups was their business and has nothing to do with the APC.
He also dismissed the withdrawal of about 18 National Assembly members from the ADC to the NDC as politically insignificant.
“If someone defects from ADC to NDC or any other opposition party, it does not affect APC,” he said.
Let them work out their problems. APC is strong and we are making progress with good numbers.
Yilwatda also said opposition figures were just playing in the same political space and none of the defectors were APC members.
“Talking about NDC. People come into APC and say we paid them, but when they leave among themselves no body says a thing. None of the defectors is from our party. “They are fishing from the same pond,” he said.
The APC chairman said the continuous purchase of nomination forms showed that the party was enjoying increasing support across the country.
“Nigerians are satisfied with what APC is doing. They love and accept the party in all the geopolitical zones,” he said.
“We are pleased with the number of people buying our forms.”
He said that the APC is well positioned and organized for the 2027 elections.
“This is only possible in APC and we are happy to see it under our watch,” he said.
Yilwatda also dismissed any chance of extending the deadline for purchase and submission of nomination forms, saying the timelines were provided in the Electoral Act.
“We would love to extend the time but we are time bound,” he said.
“The time frame for holding primaries and submitting results is limited by the Electoral Act. We’d like to avoid all unnecessary complications, too.”
He said the party would come up with measures during the screening exercise to avoid overcrowding and make it easy for the aspirants.
Yilwatda acknowledged the large turnout of supporters at the venue but said access would still be regulated during screening even as he described the crowd as evidence of the APC’s growing popularity nationwide.
