The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not involved in early electioneering campaign ahead of the 2027 general election, its National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda said yesterday.
Yilwatda’s defence followed claims by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police last week that some political parties have jumped the gun by embarking on early campaigns ahead of the stipulated time.
The electoral umpire said such political activities violate the electoral law.
INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu complained that parties had already kicked-off subtle campaigns despite clear provisions that restricted such activities to 150 days before the polls.
But speaking on a national television yesterday, Yilwatda said the party has not commenced campaign, stressing that the APC was conscious of the conditions guiding the electioneering campaign and will not breach the law.
He, however, admitted that APC, unlike other political parties, has continued to engage in membership mobilisation, which he claimed is permissive in law.
When reminded that INEC accused major political parties of embarking on early campaign ahead of the next elections, Yilwatda said: “I don’t know of other parties, but for APC, we have not embarked on any campaign activities. We know that there are five or six conditions that guide campaign activities, and we are not engaged in any of them.
“What we are doing is membership mobilization, which is a regular and continuous activity of any political party. I am sure if we are running fowl of the law, INEC would have written to warn. To the best of my knowledge, we have not received any of such letters.
“APC is a law abiding party and we have not committed any electoral infraction.”
On the wave of defections across party lines, the chairman noted that APC has experienced what he called “minimal defections.”
He went on: “We have had very, very minimal defections in APC. Instead, people are trooping into APC every day, not only National Assembly members from other political parties. If you look at other political parties, the state assemblies, even governors are trooping into APC.
“It tells you that APC is still the most preferred political party. People are joining us across the six geopolitical zones, and that shows our acceptance and the popularity of the APC across the country.
“I can’t say that one or two persons from the APC will not want to move to the other side, but we have more people coming in. For every one person who wants to leave APC, we have a thousand from other political parties.”
The chairman also reaffirmed the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the presidential elections in 2027, adding that in line with the electoral law, his candidacy will eventually be confirmed at the party’s primary election.
He noted that all organs of the party, its members in the six geopolitical zones and other critical stakeholders have endorsed the president for his second term bid.
“Governors, members of the National Assembly, critical stakeholders of the party – all of them – have endorsed him as the only single candidate,” Yilwatda said.
When asked if the ruling party will print more than one presidential nomination and expression of interest forms, Yilwatda said: “Printing of forms isn’t the issue. The issue is one person being accepted by the majority of members of the political party as their own preferred candidate.
“It isn’t about how many forms we are printing; the issue is there is only one office and one person is going to stand for it.”
He, however, said the party will not close its door from any other members to express their rights, insisting that everyone, including the President, will face delegates at Convention.
“Though some critical stakeholders and members have overwhelmingly endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred candidate, you can pick the form, but the members will still vote for that preferred candidate.
“That’s the voice of the majority and you could see it at the summit held at the Villa: the governors, members of the National Assembly, critical stakeholders of the party, all of them endorsed him as their own single candidate.”
Yilwatda dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition platform and others as no threat to Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying that the last by-elections showed the weight of all existing parties.
He said: “You saw in the by-election. PDP won only one seat out of seventeen. APGA won one in Anambra, and NNPP won only in Kano, ADC won only one state assembly seat. But we won across all the geopolitical zones. You see, when we talk about opposition, who is the leader of the opposition?
“Every leader in ADC is looking for a ticket unlike in 2013 when APC was formed. There was this National Leader galvanizing our members, investing money, investing his time and intelligence.
“That person was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Everybody rushing to ADC is looking for a ticket. They aren’t organized as an opposition.”
Dismissing fears of possible gang-up from Nigerians over economic policies of the APC-led administration of President Tinubu in 2027, the chairman said: “Not at all because it is the same people that voted for us in all the bye-elections and we won the majority. It is the same Nigerians that will vote at the next elections.
“Largely, they will still vote APC. Nigerians are impressed with our performance on the economy and social infrastructures provided.
“The economy is improving, security improving, access to education improving, and social security. So, Nigerians have been watching those landmark achievements by the president.”
