The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned defectors in the Federal Capital Territory against attempting to seize control of the party’s existing structure, saying new entrants must recognise the role of long-standing members in building the party.
Yilwatda spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held amid growing tension over the place of defectors and legacy members in the FCT chapter of the APC ahead of internal party contests and the 2027 electoral cycle.
He said the APC would not allow anyone joining from another platform to push aside members who had sustained the party over the years. According to him, those who decamped should come into the party with the understanding that it already has an established base and structure.
The APC chairman also said the party was working on an arrangement that would accommodate both defectors and old members, with attention to inclusion, balance, and a sense of belonging for all blocs within the FCT chapter. He added that harmony in the sharing of elective and appointive positions would be necessary to keep the party united.
On the issue of eligibility for party offices, Yilwatda said new entrants seeking executive positions must provide evidence that they had formally resigned from their former parties, including proof that such resignation was accepted by the relevant party leadership.
He further urged stakeholders to avoid tribal, religious, ethnic, and other divisive sentiments as the APC prepares for future elections in the FCT. Reports said he also disclosed that more than N250 million had been set aside for the ward and state congresses in the territory.
The remarks come as the ruling party manages internal pressure in the FCT over the influence of former opposition figures and the balance of power between new defectors and long-time APC members.
