Prof. Nentewe Yilwatda, the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, assured legacy members of the party that political defectors would not seize control of leadership structures. He delivered the message during a meeting with party stakeholders.
Yilwatda spoke to APC faithful on Tuesday. He stated clearly that new entrants must respect existing party structures built by long-standing members. “If the house was not built, nobody will come. So nobody should come as a warrior and take over existing party members and take them away,” he declared.
The chairman added that defectors would undergo proper integration. He noted that those who recently joined had completed necessary formalities and would receive formal unveiling as APC members in the coming week.
Yilwatda emphasized inclusive arrangements. “We must have everybody included. There will be a sharing formula that will ensure that all members of the legacy group and defectors are properly carried along,” he said. He further explained that defectors seeking leadership positions must provide proof of resignation from their former parties.
The assurance came amid growing concerns among founding members. Many legacy members feared displacement as high-profile politicians continued to defect to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda urged stakeholders to protect their structures. He told them to remain vigilant and prevent any takeover attempts. The chairman stressed that the party would enforce rules to balance interests of both old and new members.
Party officials confirmed that the message aimed to calm tensions. They added that the APC remained open to new members while safeguarding the rights of those who built the party from its foundation. The development occurred as political realignments intensified across Nigeria.
