The North-Central of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has stated that the party’s national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has failed to demonstrate the leadership qualities expected of his position.
Speaking via a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the forum’s Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, stated that they regret championing the return of the party’s national chairmanship to the zone.
The forum alleged that Yilwatda is blocking the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, from joining the APC.
Zazzaga accused Yilwatda of promoting a religious agenda and prioritising his personal political interests in Plateau State.
The statement was triggered by a circulating video in which Yilwatda, speaking in a church, claimed to be representing Christians in the North-Central, a remark the Forum described as divisive and contrary to the APC’s ethos.
“We, the North-Central APC Forum, regret our agitation for the return of the position of APC national chairman to the North-Central region… We are apologising to Mr President, to former national chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, and to other leaders of the party,” the group said.
The forum said its disappointment stemmed from what it described as Yilwatda’s inability to unite the region or manage party affairs effectively.
“He has shown that he is not competent enough to unite the people of the North-Central,” the statement added.
The group further argued that Yilwatda lacked political exposure, noting that he had never been elected even as a delegate or councillor, and alleged that his leadership had deepened political divisions in Plateau State and the wider zone.
Calling on President Bola Tinubu to appoint a more competent national chairman, from any region, at the APC’s planned December 2025 national convention, the Forum said the chairmanship need not remain in the North-Central.
Nevertheless, the group reaffirmed its commitment to delivering six million votes from the region for President Tinubu in 2027, citing high-level appointments from the zone, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation, as sufficient political representation.
The forum stated that Yilwatda was frustrating efforts to woo Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.
It alleged that Yilwatda, who lost the 2023 governorship election to Mutfwang, was blocking the governor’s defection because he intends to run again in 2027.
Describing the APC chairman as self-serving, the group urged him to resign and focus on his governorship ambition. It also accused him of attempting to invalidate the Forum’s certificate of recognition issued in 2018.
“If he is a true leader, he should not block people from coming in to strengthen the party,” the forum said.
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