Yilwatda projects APC will retain presidency, sweep governorship polls in 2027

Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party is on track to retain the presidency and win the majority of governorship and legislative seats in the 2027 general election.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the APC League of Professionals, Yilwatda said the achievements recorded so far under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have strengthened the party’s chances of electoral victory across the country.

He added that policies of the Tinubu administration, including the student loan scheme and youth empowerment programmes, have positively impacted Nigerians.

“The child of the poorest man in Nigeria can now go to school to the peak without borrowing from anywhere,” he said.

“The government has made provision for that. This is the only time we’ve had that in the history of Nigeria.

“The government has dropped N1.5 billion into the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to support young men who want to go into agriculture.

“Never before have we had this opportunity. We have the youth fund being given to the youth. Never before has any government done this.

“And I can tell you that the opportunity for the young people is right under our President.

“What I can show you first is a thank you for this support, a thank you for standing by our party, a thank you for believing in this party.

“Our manifesto targets people like you. The Renewed Hope Agenda targets people like you.

“And I look forward to working with you to ensure that 2027 will deliver the President, the governors, the senators, the house of assembly and the house of representatives members.”

Yilwatda, a former minister of humanitarian affairs, also described himself as a bridge between the old and the young.

Marlin Daniel, pioneer secretary of the APC in Bayelsa state, thanked Tinubu and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Hope Uzodimma, for backing Yilwatda’s emergence as national chairman.

Daniel expressed confidence in Yilwatda’s capacity to deliver electoral victories for the party, citing his experience as both a politician and technocrat.

On Monday, Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa state, described Yilwatda’s appointment as “a profound reflection of the party’s collective will to usher in a new era of strategic renewal, unity, and stability”.

He said the APC, as the ruling party, must demonstrate leadership by upholding equity, fairness and internal democracy in its affairs.