APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for a second term in the 2027 general election. He also expressed sympathy to the government and people of Niger State over the death of 37 miners.
Yilwatda spoke in Maiduguri at the end of a three-day strategic retreat of the APC National Working Committee (NWC). The meeting was attended by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, and other top party leaders.
In an eight-point communiqué issued after the retreat, the APC chairman said the party shared the pain of the victims’ families and the people of Niger State.
«”We extend our deepest condolences to the people of Niger State, the government and the good people of the state over the loss of 37 miners in the state. Our prayers and heart are with the people of Niger State over that loss,” Yilwatda said.»
The APC leader said the retreat gave the party the opportunity to review its activities from the national level down to the states, local governments, wards and polling units.
According to him, the assessment showed that the APC remained united, organised and fully prepared for the next general election. He said members of the National Working Committee also passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
“At the retreat, the party also had a deep dive into the party at the state, at the national, state, local government, ward down to polling unit. And after we reviewed the performance of the party, we gave a clean bill of health to the APC as a party.
“We feel strongly that the party is strong, the party is healthy, the party is prepared and the party is oiled for the 2027 general election.”
Yilwatda said the APC would intensify reconciliation among members across the country. He urged state chapters that had not established reconciliation committees to do so in order to resolve internal disputes before the 2027 polls.
He also appealed to Nigerians and party members to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“We call on all Nigerians, our supporters, and our members, to come out en masse to support our president and re-elect him for the second term and all our candidates in the 2027 general election.
“We’ve done well, the party has done well, and we believe that we deserve a second term for Mr. President.”
Speaking on the removal of petrol subsidy, Yilwatda defended the Federal Government’s policy, saying bringing back the subsidy would place fresh pressure on public finances.
He referred to the APC’s earlier response through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on calls by opposition figures to restore fuel subsidy.
“Our party has responded to that. You need to go back and listen to what Morka, the PR Officer of the party, responded. The ADC presidential candidate was saying that he wants to return the fuel subsidy when he comes into power,” he said.»
The APC chairman argued that funds saved from subsidy removal had created room for investments in critical sectors. He listed student loans, road construction, railway projects, gas infrastructure and compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives among programmes that could suffer if fuel subsidy returned.
He also said the government had expanded access to foreign exchange, improved external reserves and reduced the long fuel queues that previously affected businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
“Just imagine the queue, the man-hours that people used to waste just to ensure they have fuel,” he said.
Yilwatda said the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms should be judged alongside ongoing investments in infrastructure, energy and other development projects.
He thanked the Borno State Government and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for hosting the retreat and appreciated journalists for their coverage of the event.
The APC retreat comes as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 general election. The economy, rising cost of living, fuel subsidy, infrastructure development and internal party unity are expected to remain key issues in the campaigns ahead.
