Tinubu Fully Backs APC Primaries Despite Growing Fallout — Yilwatda Reveals

Yilwatda made the remark while addressing journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Wednesday, amid growing concerns and complaints trailing the APC primaries in several states.

According to him, the APC primaries remain the most fiercely contested in Nigeria’s political history because of the party’s widespread popularity and acceptance nationwide.

He commended President Tinubu, party members, and supporters for what he described as a disciplined and largely peaceful process, noting that the exercise had been mostly free of major crises.

“I also want to appreciate our supporters for the maturity and discipline shown throughout the process. The primaries have been highly organised and largely peaceful, with only a few complaints, which are normal in any electoral exercise. Overall, the process has been close to perfect,” he stated.

Speaking on disputes surrounding consensus arrangements in some states, Yilwatda explained that the party’s guidelines clearly provide alternatives where consensus fails.

“Our rules on consensus are very clear, just as our rules on direct primaries are clear. Where consensus is unsuccessful, members proceed with direct primaries, and that is exactly what is happening in different states,” he said.

The APC chairman also acknowledged that some aspirants and party members may feel dissatisfied after the primaries but stressed that the party already has established structures to handle grievances and settle disputes internally.

“Certainly, there will be aggrieved members after the primaries, but the APC has effective internal conflict-resolution mechanisms that have worked over time. We have both the Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee and the Party Conflict Resolution Committee to address such issues,” he added.

Yilwatda further disclosed that President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the primaries, especially the logistics and strategies deployed by the party nationwide.

“The President was pleased with the logistics and tactics used across the country. He also appreciated the reduced level of incidents recorded during the primaries. He is happy with the way the process is being handled,” he said.

He noted that the extensive use of direct primaries this election cycle demonstrated the party’s improved organisational strength and logistical capacity, adding that members’ discipline contributed significantly to the limited conflicts witnessed so far.