Is INEC A Cult? – APC Fires Back As Uproar Grows Over Yilwatda’s Appointment

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the opposition’s criticism over the appointment of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, as its new national chairman, calling their concerns unfounded.

Opposition parties have expressed unease over Yilwatda’s elevation, citing his past association with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

A former engineering lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Yilwatda was appointed REC in 2017 and served in Benue State. During his tenure, he oversaw elections in Benue, Anambra, Osun, Rivers, and Cross River States before resigning in 2022.

Peter Ameh, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), described Yilwatda’s appointment as a direct threat to democratic integrity in Nigeria. In a recent interview with Punch, Ameh said the move signals a worrying erosion of the neutrality expected of INEC, and casts a shadow over the credibility of the country’s electoral processes.

Ameh stated, “Appointing Prof. Yilwatda, a former INEC official, as APC’s national chairman should alarm anyone who values democratic fairness. This development, confirmed during the party’s NEC meeting on July 24, 2025, raises serious concerns about the impartiality of INEC and the ruling party’s commitment to democratic norms.”

He added that Yilwatda’s role in INEC, followed by his political pursuits—including contesting the APC governorship primary in Plateau State and coordinating the Tinubu/Shettima campaign—signals an alarming overlap between electoral management and partisan politics.

“This transition from an impartial electoral role to a political leadership position undermines public trust in the neutrality of the electoral body,” Ameh warned.

Responding to the backlash, APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the controversy, arguing there is nothing unusual or unethical about a former INEC official serving in a political party.

“Is INEC a cult?” Ibrahim asked rhetorically. “Former INEC staff have a right to participate in politics. Many political parties engage former electoral officials as advisers or consultants. Why should ours be any different?”

He further clarified that Yilwatda has no access to INEC’s internal systems or data and that his knowledge of the institution would only help APC avoid pitfalls—not manipulate outcomes.