APC Will Endure Beyond Tinubu’s Presidency, Says Party Chairman

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has assured that the party is well-positioned to survive and thrive even after President Bola Tinubu leaves office. Yilwatda made the remarks on Friday during an interview, addressing widespread speculation about the APC’s future beyond Tinubu’s presidency.

He emphasized that the party’s strength is not tied to any single individual, noting that the APC had been resilient prior to Tinubu’s tenure. “Of course, the party will survive after Tinubu. Before him, the APC survived; with him, the APC survived,” Yilwatda said, highlighting the institutional structures, experienced leadership, and political depth within the party.

Yilwatda also recalled Tinubu’s pivotal role in establishing the APC ahead of the 2015 general elections, despite not holding an executive position at the time. He further cited the 2018 reconciliation committee, instituted by the late President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by Tinubu, which prepared the party for the 2019 elections. “Tinubu reconciled the numbers we needed to win the 2019 election. Did we win it? Yes,” Yilwatda stated.

The chairman argued that Tinubu’s political acumen, ability to unify factions, and extensive network were crucial to the party’s victories, even before he assumed the presidency. Looking ahead, Yilwatda noted that Tinubu’s influence would remain significant as a former president, guiding the party with his experience and strategic approach.

Addressing claims that the APC might struggle to secure northern votes in the 2027 elections, Yilwatda pointed to the results of the August 2025 by-elections as evidence of the party’s growing acceptance across the region. “Before the by-election, they said the APC would not win any election in the North… The results proved otherwise. We won in Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kogi, and Niger, losing only one House of Assembly seat,” he said. The chairman added that the party’s appeal spans religious and ethnic lines, reflecting broad-based support.