Jane Salihu
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed the emergence of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a threat to the ruling party, insisting that the APC remains Nigeria’s most formidable political force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday during the screening of APC governorship aspirants, Yilwatda said the opposition was more preoccupied with internal rivalries than with challenging the ruling party.
“Why should we be afraid?” he asked. “The contest is not between the APC and the opposition. What we are seeing now is the opposition fighting itself.”
His remarks came in response to questions about the NDC’s decision at its maiden national convention to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria.
According to the APC chairman, the development confirms what the ruling party has always maintained—that opposition parties are fragmented and unable to present a united front.
“We have been vindicated. People accused APC of fighting the opposition, but Nigerians can now see clearly that the opposition is fighting itself,” he said.
Yilwatda argued that the true test of political relevance lies in electoral performance, not media visibility.
“Performance is not on television, radio or in newspapers. Performance is on the field during elections,” he stated.
He noted that neither the NDC nor the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has recorded any meaningful electoral victories, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as the APC’s main challenger, has also struggled to gain momentum.
Responding to reports that the NDC has attracted 17 federal lawmakers, Yilwatda said the figure was insignificant when compared with the APC’s overwhelming national structure.
“We have over 400 legislators, 31 governors and more than 600 local government chairmen. Compared to that, 17 is a meagre number,” he said.
The APC chairman declared that the ruling party remains fully prepared to confront any political challenger.
“APC is the most prepared and most outstanding political party in Nigeria today. I have not seen any party that can give us a headache,” he said.
On the absence of some governors from the ongoing screening exercise, including the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Yilwatda said three governors; those of Rivers, Kwara State and Ebonyi State, had yet to appear but had been excused due to official engagements.
“Governors are chief executives of their states. They have responsibilities to attend to. Whenever they are free, they will contact the screening committee and be screened at their convenience,” he explained.
His comments reflect the confidence within the APC as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections amid growing efforts by opposition figures to forge a united coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party.
