The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has told political appointees serving under President Bola Tinubu that they must actively support and mobilise for the party ahead of the 2027 general election or leave their positions.
Yilwatda made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving members of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, led by the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area in Niger State, Dr Mustafa Jibrin.
Addressing the delegation, the APC chairman said political appointees cannot claim to be technocrats and remain detached from the party's political activities. According to him, accepting a political appointment comes with a responsibility to contribute to the party's electoral success.
“It is you who will tell me that this commissioner is not working. Maybe he is working in the office, but politically he is zero in his ward. It is you who know whether this director general may be working in the office, but politically he is zero back home,” Yilwatda said.
He stressed that performance in government offices alone is not enough, adding that appointees must also maintain political relevance and grassroots engagement in their constituencies.
Yilwatda rejected the argument often made by some appointees that they are technocrats rather than politicians.
“We call them political appointees. There is a word ‘political’ there. They are not just technocrats. You can’t be holding a political position and then say you are not a politician,” he said.
He added that individuals unwilling to participate in politics should decline political appointments from the outset.
“If you don’t want to be a politician, don’t take a political appointment. We work to mobilise votes. Without the votes, you can’t be in office,” he said.
The APC chairman urged local government chairmen to identify areas where the party needs stronger mobilisation efforts and provide feedback on appointees who are not contributing politically at the grassroots level.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 elections, Yilwatda assured the forum of the party's support for its planned mobilisation activities, including the inauguration of state coordinators and a proposed mass endorsement rally for President Tinubu.
“We will support you. We will stand by you. We will ensure that we have a strong partnership that will give this party a strong victory in 2027,” he stated.
Earlier, Dr Mustafa Jibrin informed the APC leadership that the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum currently has the backing of more than 685 local government chairmen and 31 governors affiliated with the party.
He said the forum is targeting at least 70 per cent of the votes cast in the 2027 presidential election for the APC and plans to mobilise council chairmen and councillors nationwide for a formal endorsement of President Tinubu's re-election bid on a date yet to be announced.
