A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Yekini Nabena, has warned the Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda-led National Working Committee (NWC) against surrendering party structures to serving governors as the party prepares for nationwide congresses.
Nabena, an APC chieftain from Bayelsa State, said giving control of structures at ward, local government and state levels to governors could fuel resentment, sideline loyal party members and drive away the remaining grassroots supporters.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, he warned that “the 2027 general elections is about masses against the few people in the corridor of power, hence the masses must be carried along.”
He said indications from ongoing preparations suggested that the current NWC was positioning to hand over structures in each state to the governors, based on developments and information from the APC national secretariat.
Nabena, however, noted that it was not too late for the party leadership to correct the process and ensure free and fair congresses across the country.
“We will not be surprised if this prediction comes true because the National Chairman himself and more than half of the entire NWC didn’t go through election. They were appointed. So, what do you expect?”
He urged the NWC to allow open contests at all levels by making nomination forms available to every aspirant, warning that anything short of this could lead to litigation and disputes across states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also said members of the present NWC required proper guidance, noting that “many of them did not know what it takes to contest and win election into the position they are currently”.
He said: “As the party preparing for congresses, the report we are getting is that all the nomination forms are being delivered to the Governors – who will eventually determine who become what by selection. This will not end well. In fact, it will be the beginning of internal crisis which may lead to implosion.
“I think this move should be avoided now before it is too late. So, I appeal to our National Working Committee led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda to do the right thing now before it is too late.
“It is also important that the elders and leaders of our party speak up now by calling the NWC members to order so that they won’t proceed in error.”
While warning of possible internal crisis, Nabena called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step in before the nationwide exercise begins.
“So, my appeal to the NWC is that they should not chase away the remaining masses we have in the party. APC used to have about 40 million registered members but now we are struggling to get 10 millions registered members in the ongoing electronic registration. This calls for caution and we must be wise to do the right thing now.”
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