APC Backs Yilwatda Amid Intense Criticism Over Alleged INEC Connections

APC Backs Yilwatda Amid Intense Criticism Over Alleged INEC Connections

The appointment of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked controversy among some Nigerians, particularly within opposition circles.

Yilwatda’s former role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns among critics, who view his emergence as a calculated move by President Bola Tinubu to potentially undermine INEC’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His appointment was confirmed during the APC’s National Executive Committee meeting held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Yilwatda, who resigned from his position as INEC REC for Benue State in 2022, succeeds Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down on June 27, 2025, citing health reasons.

The new national chairman, a former engineering lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, was appointed REC in July 2017 and posted to Benue State. During his four-year stay in office, he participated in the conduct of elections in Benue, Anambra, Osun, Rivers and Cross River states.

He contested the 2023 Plateau State governorship election on the platform of the APC, initially secured victories at the election petitions tribunal and the Court of Appeal, but ultimately lost to the incumbent Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, at the Supreme Court.

Speaking with The press, a member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Diran Odeyemi, said the new APC chairman’s appointment had invariably brought to the fore the doubt about INEC’s neutrality in the elections to be held under his chairmanship.

He said, “This appointment has again exposed who Prof Yilwatda is. He has APC DNA, which raises serious concerns about his neutrality in his previous assignments, through which he got the new appointment as APC national chairman. This again raises the question of how truly independent INEC is.

“Let’s hope his contemporaries are not in charge of our elections in Nigeria, or can we rightly conclude that election results have been pronounced with the announcement of his name as their new chairman?”

Taking a slightly different position, the National Publicity Secretary of the Young Progressives Party, Wale Egbeola-Martins, noted that, though the former minister’s appointment raised some fundamental questions, emphasis should be on reforming the nation’s electoral laws.

He said, “While the concerns raised are understandable, the Young Progressives Party believes that the broader and more pressing issue lies in the urgent need to reform Nigeria’s electoral laws.

“The credibility of our democratic process cannot hinge solely on individuals or their past affiliations but must be built on strong, transparent, and enforceable electoral frameworks.

“Once our electoral laws are thoroughly reformed and institutionalised, fears of undue influence, whether real or perceived, will be significantly minimised.

“Strengthening legal safeguards around the electoral process is the surest way to inspire public confidence and ensure that elections truly reflect the will of the people, regardless of who occupies party leadership positions. For us, the focus should be on systemic integrity, not personalities.”

The Coalition of United Political Parties described Yilwatda’s appointment as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

In an interview with our correspondent, the National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said,

“The recent appointment of Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, a former REC of INEC, as the national chairman of the APC should spark widespread concern about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral system and the health of its democracy.

“This development, confirmed on July 24, 2025, during the APC’s National Executive Committee meeting, raises serious questions about the impartiality of INEC, the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, and the ruling party’s commitment to upholding democratic principles.

“The decision to elevate an individual with recent ties to INEC to such a prominent political position is not merely a political manoeuvre; it represents a deliberate erosion of the institutional safeguards that ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.

“The appointment of a former REC as the APC’s national chairman, barely three years after his tenure at INEC, creates a perception of compromised neutrality and undermines public confidence in the electoral body.”

Asked to explain how the new APC boss threatened the nation’s electioneering processes, Ameh said, “Yilwatda served as an REC in Benue State from 2017 to 2021, a role that required him to embody impartiality and oversee elections with fairness.

“His subsequent involvement in partisan politics, including his candidacy in the APC’s 2022 governorship primary in Plateau State and his role as the state coordinator for the Tinubu/Shettima campaign organisation in 2023, raises serious concerns about the potential politicisation of INEC.

“The transition from a supposedly neutral electoral official to a top position within the ruling party raises serious concerns about the blurring of lines between electoral oversight and partisan politics,” critics argue.

They claim the move heightens fears that INEC’s independence could be compromised, casting doubt on the credibility of both past and upcoming elections.

APC Dismisses Allegations as Unfounded

The All Progressives Congress has rejected the concerns raised by the opposition, calling them baseless.

Bala Ibrahim, the party’s Director of Publicity, stated that there is nothing unusual about former INEC officials taking up roles within political parties.

“INEC is not a cult,” he said. “Political parties frequently engage former INEC personnel as advisers or consultants. Just as a retired coach can advise a sports team, or a former police officer can serve as a security consultant, there is no rule preventing a former electoral official from working in a political environment.”

Ibrahim stressed that Prof. Yilwatda’s appointment does not grant the APC any unfair advantage, adding that while he once worked with INEC, he no longer has access to any of its internal systems or resources.

“His familiarity with INEC processes can simply help the party avoid potential pitfalls,” he explained, encouraging opposition parties to also consider drawing on the expertise of former INEC staff to enhance their own operations.