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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has formally assumed office at the national secretariat, declaring that the 2027 presidential election was a done deal for the ruling party.
The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management spoke in his inaugural meeting with the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) after arriving at the Buhari House on a Land Cruiser car by 4.25pm.
He announced that under his watch, the door of the party would be thrown wide open to new members from the opposition parties, particularly other party members from both chambers of the National Assembly.
He said: “I appreciate Nigerians supporting and standing by the APC. Our doors are open to welcome new members. We look forward to having more governors, more senators, more National Assembly members, more local government chairman and more members into our party. We expand beyond bounds. I am sure by God’s grace, 2027 is a done deal for the APC,” he assured.
While appealing to the NWC members and the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) not to sabotage him, he claimed that working with unity of purpose, the ruling party will be the joy, pride and bright light of the entire nation.
“It is our collective effort and I am sure by the time we put our hands on the deck collectively, this party will be great. This party will be the joy, the pride and the bright light of the entire nation and that is what I expect this party to become under our collective leadership.
“I count it a rare privilege and I must appreciate God, appreciate the leadership of our party, appreciate our governors, National Assembly, NWC members and all the teaming loyal supporters of the APC for resting this burden of trust on me.
“I count it a trust and a burden at the same time because it’s quite heavy and large. I know that I have people around me, veterans, supporters, friends as members of the NWC. I have worked with them before; I have virtually met all the members of the NWC in person,” he said.
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Meanwhile, the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Festus Faunter, formally resigned his position in the early hours yesterday.
Faunter’s resignation was based on the emergence of the new National Chairman Yilwatda, who is from the same state as him.
The resignation was in line with the statute of the ruling party which stipulates that two national officers cannot come from the same state.
Already, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, has been appointed by the stakeholders during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
In his remarks, the chairman of PGF, Hope Uzodimma, who moved for the emergence of the new chairman, said he saw a bright future for the party.
“As we turn this page, it is imperative that we quickly move to nominate a capable and unifying replacement, someone who can build on the foundation laid and help reposition the party to its rightful place of pride in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“I would also like to commend the notable progress made on the party’s membership e-registration exercise.
This is a very vital step in deepening internal democracy, ensuring credible data-driven planning and opening new channels of inclusion for millions of Nigerians, who wish to identify with the APC.
“The advantages of this innovation are far-reaching and timely, and as we modernise our operations and prepare for future engagements, we wish to encourage this exercise. The future of the APC is bright. The leadership of President Bola Tinubu continues to inspire a renewed confidence in governance,” he said.
