North-Central APC Forum Seeks Review of Chairman’s Appointment

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has intensified its push for a change in the party’s leadership, formally requesting key zonal figures to seek a review of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda’s appointment as the APC National Chairman. The forum has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and APC governors in the North-Central region to meet directly with President Bola Tinubu on the matter.

Specifically, the Forum called upon the governors of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger States to interface with the Progressive Governors Forum, the umbrella body for all APC governors. Their immediate request is for a meeting with the President to review Yilwatda’s continued tenure.

This demand, issued in a statement on Wednesday, is the latest development in a high-stakes disagreement between the North-Central APC Forum and certain party chieftains in Plateau State regarding the potential defection of Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the APC.

The APC Forum has been actively lobbying for Governor Mutfwang to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, the Plateau State APC executives have firmly opposed the move, culminating in a stakeholders meeting in October where a resolution was passed to reject the Governor’s entry.

The opposition was recently reinforced on Tuesday, when the APC women’s wing in Plateau held a highly visible rally in Jos, vehemently rejecting the alleged moves by Mutfwang to switch parties.

The North-Central APC Forum now alleges that the party’s National Chairman, Professor Yilwatda, who is from Plateau State, is actively sponsoring protests and a media campaign to block Mutfwang’s defection. Yilwatda, who was the APC governorship candidate in 2023 but lost to Mutfwang, is accused of acting on a personal ambition to contest the gubernatorial election again in 2027.

The Forum, through its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, reiterated its earlier position that Yilwatda’s alleged opposition is undemocratic and contrary to the party’s constitution. Zazzaga urged leaders from the North-Central to seek an immediate review of the national chairman’s appointment, citing what they view as unsatisfactory performance.

According to the Forum, it is critical for the North-Central to seek this review because Yilwatda’s alleged poor performance will negatively affect the zone’s prospects when major national appointments are considered in the future.

The Forum stated: “We are compelled to make this call because we don’t want a situation where the North-Central will be judged on the performance of the current national chairman, which we fear could deny the region major opportunities in the future.”

They insisted that the National Chairman has failed to demonstrate the necessary competence, choosing instead to spend time and resources fighting those working for the party’s growth, particularly in Plateau State.

The Forum further argued that if Yilwatda is allowed to continue, any future person presented by the North-Central for major national assignments will be disadvantaged. As regional stakeholders, they felt compelled to intervene quickly to prevent this outcome.

The North-Central APC Forum restated its assertion that Yilwatda misunderstands the fundamental role of a party national chairman, noting that he lacks the authority to stop Governor Mutfwang from joining the party.

They argued that only Mutfwang’s ward level in Mangu has the right to admit him as a party member. Instead of providing necessary leadership, the chairman is accused of “sponsoring groups to go to the media and to stage protests to stop Mutfwang from defecting.”

The Forum urged APC governors to view the National Chairman’s alleged actions as a violation of the party’s constitution. They claimed that because of his personal ambition to be the governor of Plateau State, he is blocking people who would strengthen the party from coming on board.

They pointed out that Mutfwang’s defection would automatically deliver Plateau State to the APC, a move the national chairman should support, yet he is allegedly working against the party’s interest.

The Forum maintained that the office of National Chairman is beyond Yilwatda’s capacity, citing his lack of experience, having allegedly never been elected as a delegate or councilor, nor having served the party in any capacity before his appointment. They called for the relevant authorities to review his appointment and approve a more capable person.

In a related development, the North-Central APC Forum offered congratulations to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma on his appointment as Director-General for Party Outreach, Engagement, and Mobilisation. They described the appointment as well-deserved, noting it justifies their position that the current National Chairman was not discharging his assignment effectively.

The Forum also urged Uzodinma to leverage his new role and his capacity as chairman of the APC governors to push for the review of the National Chairman’s appointment.

Finally, the Forum issued a warning that paying Plateau women “peanuts” to protest Mutfwang’s defection could inadvertently worsen the security situation in the state. They fear that criminal elements might target the women, believing they received huge sums of money, which they described as unfortunate and deserving of condemnation.