The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed concerns that the ongoing wave of defections into the ruling party could trigger internal instability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made the remarks during a media interaction with journalists in Abuja, where he insisted that the party’s internal structures remain strong enough to manage rising political interests without crisis.
He said the APC had already demonstrated capacity to handle internal pressures during its congresses and leadership contests, despite predictions of possible collapse.
“No. If you watch our congresses, the opposition said that after our congresses, our party will collapse because of self-implosion,” he said.
“We were able to manage the interest of everybody, the governors, the National Assembly, and other members of the party and we did that equitably.”
The APC chairman maintained that the party’s stability is anchored on what he described as a strong internal conflict-resolution mechanism.
“I think no political party in Nigeria has our own internal conflict resolution mechanism,” he added.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Yilwatda expressed confidence that the APC would maintain its political dominance, citing its strength in key voting blocs across the country.
He specifically mentioned Kano and Katsina states as strongholds of the party, describing Kano as “a given” for the APC.
“I can assure you that Kano is a given to us as APC, and it is a swing state in the North-West,” he said, adding that Katsina also remains firmly aligned with the party.
The APC has recently witnessed a steady inflow of defectors from opposition parties, a trend that has intensified political realignments nationwide and fueled debate about the country’s evolving party system.
Despite criticism from opposition figures and analysts, the ruling party insists that its expanding membership base will not undermine its cohesion or internal balance.
The APC currently controls 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, a dominance that has also attracted accusations from critics who claim the country is drifting toward a one-party system.
However, party leaders maintained that their focus remains on governance and electoral preparedness, not just political consolidation.
“We are not just playing politics alone; we are also ensuring that governance will count in our elections,” Yilwatda said.
