APC On The Brink? Nabena Fires Warning: ‘Don’t Surrender Party Structures To Governors

In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, Nabena warned that such a decision could trigger internal unrest and alienate grassroots members, particularly with the 2027 general elections on the horizon.

He argued that transferring party structures from the ward to state levels into the hands of governors would breed discontent, sideline loyal party faithful, and drive away grassroots supporters.

According to the Bayelsa-born APC chieftain, success in the 2027 elections would hinge on the backing of ordinary Nigerians rather than a select political elite. He stressed that the party must carry the masses along if it hopes to remain electorally competitive.

Nabena claimed that reports from the party’s national secretariat indicate that the Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda-led NWC may be considering handing over control of party machinery to sitting governors nationwide. He expressed little surprise at the development, noting that the National Chairman and several NWC members were appointed rather than elected.

He called for openness and fairness in the forthcoming ward, local government, and state congresses, cautioning that excluding aspirants could result in widespread legal battles across states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Nabena also criticised what he described as the lack of electoral experience among some NWC members, arguing that many had not gone through the rigours of contesting and winning elections.

He further alleged that nomination forms were being routed directly to governors, effectively allowing them to handpick candidates—an action he warned could spark a serious internal crisis and potentially destabilise the party.

Appealing to President Bola Tinubu and other senior party figures, Nabena urged swift intervention to prevent what he described as a looming implosion.

He emphasised that the party leadership must act responsibly to avoid driving away its remaining grassroots supporters.

Lamenting a reported decline in membership, Nabena cited figures from the ongoing e-registration exercise, claiming that the party’s registered members had dropped significantly from about 40 million to fewer than 10 million, a development he said should prompt caution and corrective action.