Yilwatda further argued that the movement of 18 House of Representatives members from the ADC to the NDC was a mere shift within the same political space.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nantewe Yilwatda, has stated that the recent defection of the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) does not pose any threat to the re-election of his party’s candidate, President Bola Tinubu, in 2027.
He made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the ongoing sale and submission of APC nomination and expression of interest forms.
Obi and the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, recently dumped the ADC to join the NDC alongside their supporters.
The move has since triggered a wave of defections from other parties, including the movement of 18 National Assembly members from the ADC to the NDC.
Reacting to the development, Yilwatda dismissed the notion that the movement of the two political heavyweights poses a danger to the ruling party.
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He also downplayed the resignation of the 18 federal lawmakers who left the ADC for the NDC, describing it as politically insignificant.
“If someone defects from the ADC to the NDC or another opposition party, that does not affect the APC,” he said. “Let them sort out their problems. The APC remains solid, and we are moving forward with strong numbers.”
Yilwatda further argued that opposition figures were merely moving within the same political space, noting that none of the defectors belonged to the APC.
“You talked about the NDC. When people join the APC, they claim we paid them; but when they defect among themselves, nobody says anything. None of those defecting is from our party. They are fishing from the same pond,” he stated.
Speaking on the ongoing purchase of nomination forms, the APC chairman said the turnout reflected growing public support for the ruling party across the country.
“Nigerians are happy with what the APC is doing. They love and accept the party across all geopolitical zones,” he said. “We are encouraged by the large number of people coming out to purchase our forms.”
