No Politician Can Intimidate the Ruling Party
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the ruling party is not intimidated by any politician in Nigeria, insisting that only a viable platform can guarantee electoral success.
Speaking during a radio programme in Jos, Yilwatda dismissed speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan could pose a threat to the APC in future elections, stressing that Jonathan’s candidacy would be “dead on arrival” if not backed by a strong political structure.
“The APC is not scared of any name in Nigeria. Our engines and machinery are well-oiled and prepared to win elections emphatically,” he said. “The opposition today exists only in pockets of communities and states, without any real national strength. That is why in the last rerun elections, no opposition party could secure a single seat in the North, and the South-South and South-East recorded no wins for them either.”
Yilwatda dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition as lacking the capacity to challenge the APC, likening opposition movements to vehicles without engines. “You can wear the best clothes, but if you don’t have a good car to take you to a reception, you will break down on the road. Which vehicle will carry Jonathan—ADC or PDP?” he asked.
The APC chairman praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his political sagacity, particularly his role in the 2013 coalition that birthed the APC. According to Yilwatda, Tinubu’s maturity and leadership ensured the coalition’s success despite skepticism at the time.
“When the merger was taking shape, Asiwaju played a fatherly role. He didn’t show interest in the presidency; instead, his home became the rallying point. He invested heavily without asking for anything in return and midwifed the coalition to success,” Yilwatda stated.
He reaffirmed that the APC remains united, strong, and ready to dominate future elections across the country.
