The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed allegations that the ruling party protects its members from prosecution over corruption, insisting that those facing criminal charges continue to appear in court without interference from the party.
Yilwatda maintained that the APC would not compromise the fundamental human rights of its members in the course of criminal prosecution, stressing that party affiliation does not place anyone above the law.
He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election.
“Nobody is protected in the APC party. I don’t want to mention names, but I know members of our party who are undergoing prosecution – who appear in court every day,” he said.
“As APC members, we can’t use strict prosecution to go ahead and deny people their fundamental human rights.”
On the APC’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, Yilwatda said the party had conducted internal polls which, according to him, showed Tinubu ahead of his political opponents across the states.
“We have done fact-finding; we are leading. We have done our polls. We have our own polls that give us the real statistics across the states,” he said.
When asked whether the findings indicated that Tinubu would win the election, the APC chairman replied, “Of course!”
Tinubu is expected to face opposition candidates, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Yilwatda dismissed concerns about the opposition’s chances, arguing that the inability of rival parties to win elections ahead of 2027 would give the APC an advantage. He also described Tinubu as “far better” than Atiku.
Defending the administration’s economic policies, the APC chairman said the government had introduced tax laws intended to benefit low-income earners. He added that the reforms had widened the tax base and increased government revenue.
On electricity, Yilwatda highlighted the government’s decision to empower state governments to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
While acknowledging the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, he maintained that the situation would not last indefinitely and expressed confidence in the continued support of the electorate.
“What we are passing through in Nigeria, for example, at this moment, is temporary. The increase in the cost of fuel is temporary. Nigerians believe in us,” he added.
Yilwatda also addressed disagreements within the APC following its primary elections, disclosing that the party leadership was implementing a three-pronged strategy to resolve complaints among dissatisfied members.
He further revealed that the party was reviewing the composition of its presidential campaign council, adding that the body would be inaugurated soon.
Regarding the Rainbow Coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Yilwatda said he had no objection to the group’s decision to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The APC chairman also dismissed calls for Tinubu’s removal, describing those behind the campaigns as opposition members whose activities, in his view, did not reflect the opinions of Nigerians about the president.
Adelabu Denies Asking Nigerians to Reject APC
Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has denied reports alleging that he urged Nigerians to reject the APC, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, Adelabu accused those circulating the report of attempting to create a rift between him, Tinubu and the APC leadership.
The statement reaffirmed Adelabu’s commitment to the ruling party despite disagreements over the governorship nomination process in Oyo State. Adelabu had contested for the APC governorship ticket but reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the process, particularly over the alleged failure to release the primary election results transparently.
His media office maintained that his demand for fairness and transparency during the nomination process should not be interpreted as disloyalty to the party.
“His position has been consistent: loyalty does not preclude the demand for fairness, transparency and adherence to democratic principles,” the statement said.
The statement explained that the video circulating online was taken from an interview Adelabu granted in 2022, when he was the Accord Party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State.
During the interview, Adelabu reportedly argued that political parties had disappointed Nigerians and urged voters to consider the credibility and character of individual candidates when making electoral decisions.
According to his media office, the comments reflected the political circumstances of 2022 and did not amount to a call for Nigerians to reject the APC or oppose Tinubu’s presidency.
The statement also noted that Adelabu had not granted any media interview since the conclusion of the disputed APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State in which he allegedly made the statement.
To clarify the controversy, the media office challenged those sharing the video to release the full, unedited interview, insisting that the complete recording would provide the context necessary to understand his remarks.
It reiterated Adelabu’s loyalty to Tinubu and his continued support for the APC’s broader political objectives, rejecting suggestions that he had turned against the president or the party.
The statement urged APC members and the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that misleading reports could create divisions between Adelabu, Tinubu and the party leadership.
