ADC to APC: Aso Rock not a party office — holding NEC meeting there an aberration

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) for holding its national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja.

In a statement on Friday, Bolaji Abdullahi, interim national publicity secretary of ADC, said the State House is not a party office or a private residence.

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu presided over the APC’s NEC meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

During the meeting, the party appointed Nentawe Yilwatda, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, as its new national chairman.

Yilwatda succeeds Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down from the role in June.

Reacting to the development, Abdullahi said the ADC hopes that the “appointment” of Yilwatda “might trigger a shift in tone, temperament, and trajectory for a party that has too often equated governance with propaganda, and power with impunity”.

He added that the opposition party desires that the APC will show “greater tolerance” for dissenting voices under Yilwatda’s leadership.

“We hope Professor Yilwatda will channel his high education and experience towards improving the democratic credentials of his party and its government, which, so far, has been marked by intolerance and what has often appeared like a deliberate plan to eliminate all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on the country,” the statement reads.

“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.

“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.

“Furthermore, 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.

“In closing, we pray for Professor Yilwatda that may his tenure be longer than those of his predecessors and his exit more honourable.”

This was not the first time the APC NEC meeting would be held in Aso Rock. In 2020, the ruling party held one of its NEC meetings at the presidential villa.