2027 Politics Heats Up As APC Chairman Threatens Appointment Block For Non-Joiners

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that political appointments after the 2027 general elections will be strictly reserved for party members who demonstrate loyalty and active involvement, stressing that governance cannot be separated from politics.

Yilwatda made the remarks on Tuesday night in Abuja during an event titled Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation, organised by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo.

In a video from the event that circulated widely on Wednesday, the APC chairman emphasised that anyone holding a political appointment must be fully committed to party activities.

“We must always remember what brought us to power, and that is votes. There is no such thing as votes from technocrats. Once you receive a political appointment, you automatically become a politician,” he said.

He added, “As party chairman, I will firmly defend the position that if you are not willing to join us, you should not be appointed. If you prefer to remain a technocrat, then operate as a consultant.”

Yilwatda explained that government policies are campaign commitments that must be defended, communicated and promoted by those entrusted with their implementation, warning that distancing appointees from grassroots mobilisation could weaken the party.

“Policies are campaign promises, and those implementing them must defend and explain them. Appointees cannot separate themselves from the party’s objectives,” he said.

He cautioned that appointing individuals who are politically detached could threaten the party’s future electoral prospects, noting, “Once you are appointed, you are a politician. If everyone in government chooses to act like a technocrat, the party will not return to power.”

Describing the North-West as the backbone of the APC’s electoral strength, Yilwatda said the region would remain critical to the party’s success in 2027, contributing about 20 per cent of its total membership nationwide.

He revealed that 48 per cent of APC members in the North-West are between 18 and 35 years old, adding that the youth largely drive the party in the region, while only 17 per cent of members are aged 50 and above.

Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said the North-West delivered the highest number of votes for the APC in the 2023 elections and must stay united ahead of 2027.

“We are a major vote hub and we must protect that. It is unacceptable for some people to campaign hard while others simply show up to take appointments under the guise of being technocrats,” she said.

Bala-Usman further warned that political appointees who fail to actively mobilise support for the party would not be tolerated.

“Once you are a political appointee, you must be visible, active and supportive of the party,” she added.