There is no opposition, says APC chairman Nentawe Yilwatda

Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says there are no opposition parties in the country.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Yilwatda said one of his major priorities is expanding the party by attracting opposition politicians, including governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He added that the opposition parties have all failed in recent off-season governorship polls, such as in Edo, Ondo, Kogi, and Imo states.

“There is no opposition for now. I have zero fears for them all,” Yilwatda said.

“Why is it that all the by-elections in the last two years were all won by the APC and in landslide victories in most cases?

“My job is to unite the party, (and) to expand the party. We have 23 governors and we are still counting. My job is to bring in more. We will do legwork and bring in more.

“So far in 2025, two governors have dumped the PDP for the APC — Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state and his Delta state counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori.

“At the moment, the APC controls 23 states, the PDP rules 10 states, whilst the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) control one state each.”

Yilwatda also said he will approach leadership with calmness but take “tough decisions” just like President Bola Tinubu.

“The confidence they have in me is to make sure I take tough decisions but with gentility and teamwork for the collective interest of the party,” he said.

“Of course, I will because that is what the president asked me to do and the members are asking me to do also.

“Look at the body language of Mr President; soft-talking, calm, gentle, but look at where he is driving the country, taking tough decisions, where people fear to even discuss.”

The former minister said he would carry all members along and lead the party through broad consultations with key stakeholders across different levels.

Yilwatda said he would rely on the experience of former APC chairmen like Abdullahi Ganduje, Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu, and Mai Mala Buni to steer the party in the right direction.

He added that unity within the APC would help it deliver fully on its campaign promises and governance blueprint.

“I’m a politician coming in with private sector experience, university experience, administrative experience, election processes experience, and now with the political experience to gear the wheel of the party,” he said.

Yilwatda served as minister of humanitarian affairs under Tinubu from October 2024 until his appointment as national chairman of the APC on Thursday.