The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned Nigerians not to gamble their future on confusion, instability or politically disoriented alternatives other than the ruling APC.
A statement today, April 9, by Abimbola Tooki, his special adviser on media and communications strategy, quoted the National Chairman as stressing that the APC has over time, demonstrated the institutional maturity, national spread, political discipline and administrative capacity required to manage the complex demands of a nation as large, diverse and strategically important as Nigeria.
Professor Yilwatda who reportedly spoke against the background of the social, political and economic management of the country, said that APC is not merely preparing for the next election cycle, but actively working to deepen governance, strengthen democratic culture, improve public trust and build a stronger foundation for national development.
“The All Progressives Congress is not an ad hoc coalition held together by convenience. It is a tested and enduring political machine, built on structure, spread, experience and the capacity to respond to the real needs of Nigerians. We are the only party with the institutional strength and national reach to carry the weight of both the present and the future of this country.”
Professor Yilwatda said that while governance naturally comes with pressures, contestations and difficult decisions, the APC is committed to supporting policies and reforms that would place Nigeria on the path of long-term stability, productivity and prosperity.
According to him, the task before the current administration is not a cosmetic one but a serious nation-building responsibility that requires courage, patience, sacrifice and political steadiness, adding that the APC, as the governing party, fully understands the weight of this historic obligation and will continue to provide the political backbone required to sustain reforms and deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians.
On the internal crises ravaging some opposition parties, Professor Yilwatda said that the situation is a clear and disturbing reflection of their lack of preparedness for national leadership.
He said that any political platform that cannot manage its own internal affairs, reconcile competing tendencies, enforce discipline or build consensus within its ranks, cannot be trusted with the delicate task of governing a complex federation like Nigeria.
He said that the persistent implosions, factional wars, legal battles, ego clashes and ideological emptiness that define many opposition parties today are not just political setbacks, but warning signs of deeper structural weakness and managerial incompetence.
He said that it would be dangerous and politically irresponsible for Nigerians to hand over the future of the country to political actors who have repeatedly shown that they cannot maintain order within their own house.
“A party that cannot govern itself cannot govern Nigeria. If a political platform is constantly trapped in self-inflicted crisis, consumed by internal sabotage, and weakened by poor management, it simply has no business asking Nigerians for the mandate to lead this country.”
The APC National Chairman advised Nigerians to be discerning enough to separate noise from capacity, propaganda from preparation and opportunism from genuine leadership.
He said that while the APC would continue to evolve, reform and strengthen its internal processes, many opposition parties remain trapped in a cycle of instability that makes them unfit for serious democratic competition.
Professor Yilwatda said that a repositioned and confident APC is not afraid of political competition and does not seek victory through the technical disqualification of opponents.
He said that the APC believes in democratic contest, popular legitimacy and the power of persuasion, adding that the party derives greater strength and credibility when it wins elections through the trust and support of the Nigerian people.
According to him, while political parties must comply with the law and electoral regulations, the APC’s preference is always to defeat its opponents at the ballot box and not in backroom arrangements, procedural traps or legal technicalities.
He emphasized that true democratic legitimacy comes from earned victory, not engineered outcomes and that history is kinder to leaders and parties whose mandates are clearly validated by the people.
“Victory is sweeter when it is earned. It is more legitimate when it is freely given by the people. As a party, we believe that the strongest mandate is one secured through persuasion, performance, organization and political engagement.”
