Please Stay In Your Lane, Don’t Use Your INEC Experience To Manipulate The System For Your Party – ADC Tells New APC National Chairman

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has urged the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to use his office to deepen democratic experience in Nigeria.

The ADC expressed optimism that Yilwatda would utilise his experience as a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, rather than exploit his insider knowledge to manipulate the system in favour of his party.

This position was made known in a press statement made available to Naijaonpoint on Friday, by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in which the party congratulated Prof Yilwatda on his emergence as the APC National Chairman.

Abdullahi charged Yilwatda to embrace the opportunity his emergence presents for the APC to embrace the core values of participatory democracy.

The statement expressed cautious optimism that the latest change in APC leadership might come with a shift in both substance and style, especially regarding how the ruling party conducts its affairs and engages with the opposition.

The ADC, however, questioned the use of the State House to host the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office, noting that using a public institution for party activities is an aberration which further blurs the line between party and state functions in Nigeria.

“We at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) extend our congratulations to Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda on his appointment as the new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). While we understand that leadership transitions are routine, we are hopeful that this particular appointment might trigger a shift in tone, temperament, and trajectory for a party that has too often equated governance with propaganda, and power with impunity.

“We expect that under the stewardship of the new Chairman, the APC and the federal government it controls will start to show greater tolerance for opposition voices and alternative viewpoints with the understanding that in a democracy, disagreement is not sabotage, and criticism is not subversion.

“We hope Professor Yilwatda will channel his high education and experience towards improving the democratic credentials of his party and its government, which, so far, has been marked by intolerance and what has often appeared like deliberate plan to eliminate all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on the country.

“This is why we must register our dismay that the very National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office was held within the confines of the State House — a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence. The decision of the ruling party to host its party meeting at the seat of government is an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability. We urge the new Chairman to guide his party towards respecting the line — now dangerously blurred — between party and state.

“Furthermore, we take note of Professor Yilwatda’s previous role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust. We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch.

“In closing, we pray for Professor Yilwatda that may his tenure be longer than those of his predecessors and his exit more honourable,” the full statement read.