Fresh Crisis Brews in APC as Governors Allegedly Plot Removal of Yilwatda

A fresh internal crisis may be unfolding within the All Progressives Congress following reports that some aggrieved governors are allegedly plotting the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports, at least five governors within the ruling party are unhappy with the handling of the APC primaries and are reportedly mobilising against the chairman over his refusal to yield to political pressure during the candidate selection process.

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Sources within the party claimed that the governors involved include two from the South-West, two from the North-Central region, and one from the South-South.

One South-West governor is reportedly leading the push to remove Yilwatda and install a replacement before the 2027 elections.

The disagreement is said to centre around the APC chairman’s insistence that all primary election results must undergo scrutiny and ratification by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) before official declaration.

Some governors were reportedly displeased because they preferred results to be collated and announced directly from their state capitals without interference from the national leadership.

Reacting to the allegations, Yilwatda, through his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, denied claims of wrongdoing and insisted that all decisions regarding the primaries were reached collectively by party stakeholders.

He explained that the APC guidelines require results from constituency and senatorial district elections to be forwarded to the national headquarters for proper verification and ratification.

According to him, aspirants also retain the constitutional right to file appeals before winners are officially declared by the NWC.

“There is nothing like anger anywhere,” Tooki reportedly stated, while dismissing claims of an organised rebellion against the APC chairman.

Governors Allegedly Wanted Control of Process

Party insiders alleged that some governors attempted to influence the process by controlling access to nomination forms and handpicking members of election committees and appeal panels.

One source claimed that Yilwatda rejected efforts to restrict party forms only to preferred aspirants selected by governors.

The source further alleged that some governors were prepared to contribute large sums of money to influence the process but met resistance from the national chairman.

According to the insider, Yilwatda’s insistence on equal access for aspirants and independent committee selection became the main trigger for the current tensions.

Despite the alleged plot, party sources suggested that the aggrieved governors have struggled to secure the support of President Bola Tinubu for any move against Yilwatda.

Observers believe Tinubu’s stance could ultimately determine whether the campaign to remove the chairman gains momentum or collapses internally.

Reports indicate that the chairman is widely perceived as enjoying the confidence of the President since his emergence following the resignation of former APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje in 2025.

The controversy highlights increasing tension within the APC as political actors intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.

Analysts say disputes over primaries, candidate selection, and internal democracy could become major flashpoints within the ruling party in the coming months.

While the APC leadership continues to publicly project unity, behind-the-scenes battles over influence and succession politics appear to be deepening across several states.

As the situation develops, political observers are watching closely to see whether reconciliation efforts will prevail or whether the internal divisions could widen further before the next election cycle.