A fresh crisis may be brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as some aggrieved governors are reportedly pushing to remove Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the party’s National Chairman ahead of the 2027 elections.
Allegations Against the National Chairman
According to sources, five APC governors – two from the Southwest, two from the Northcentral and one from the Southsouth – are behind the move to oust Yilwatda. One Southwest governor is said to be leading the plot.
The governors claim they are displeased with Yilwatda’s insistence that all primary election results must undergo proper scrutiny by the National Working Committee (NWC) before final ratification and announcement at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Yilwatda’s Response
Reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said all decisions on the primary election procedures were made with the collective agreement of all stakeholders in the party.
He insisted that the agreed procedure was followed in conducting the primaries and declaring the final results.
Progressives Governors’ Forum Stance
The chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, through his Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, said he was not in a position to speak for the PGF.
Party Guidelines and Alleged Violations
Party insiders noted that the APC 2026 Primary Election Guidelines clearly direct election committees to collate results at the constituency and senatorial district levels before forwarding them to the national headquarters for verification and ratification by the NWC.
However, many governors allegedly disregarded this provision, insisting that results be collated and winners announced directly in their respective state capitals.
Insider Claims from the National Secretariat
A source at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the party leadership is aware of the alleged plot against the chairman.
The source claimed that some governors attempted to buy the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for their preferred candidates, offering to contribute one billion naira each.
Yilwatda reportedly thwarted the plan by insisting that every aspirant must have equal access to obtain the party forms, which the governors regarded as his first offence.
A second issue was his refusal to allow governors to single‑handedly nominate all members of the election committees and appeal panels deployed to their states. Allowing such handpicking would have made it easier to impose preferred candidates and influence reports.
Obstacles to the Plot
The source added that the aggrieved governors have yet to convince President Bola Tinubu of their position, which is slowing their moves. They are said to be spreading propaganda that Yilwatda is “inexperienced and nepotistic” and that his leadership would be risky for the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
However, their major obstacle remains convincing President Tinubu to support their mission. The source doubts they can succeed, noting that the president has previously allowed governors to decide their candidates for state assemblies without interference from the National Secretariat.
Media Adviser’s Clarification
Abimbola Tooki also dismissed reports of a gang‑up against Yilwatda, stating that there is no anger anywhere and that all decisions taken on the primary elections were undertaken with the collective agreement of all stakeholders.
He explained that while results can be collated and announced at the local government and state levels, no candidate should be formally declared winner at that stage because aspirants may wish to exercise their constitutional right to appeal by submitting petitions to the appeal committee.
It is only after such appeals have been received, thoroughly scrutinised and considered on their merit by the National Working Committee that a final declaration of winner can be made by the NWC. That is the proper sequence leading to the official declaration of a winner.
Tooki added that Yilwatda is believed to enjoy the support of President Tinubu for the position.
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