APC Presidential Primaries: Massive Turnout Reflects Deepening Democracy – Yilwatda

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the massive turnout recorded during the party’s nationwide presidential primaries as a reflection of the APC’s growing grassroots acceptance and strengthening internal democracy.
Yilwatda stated this shortly after participating in the APC presidential primary election at his Dungung Ward in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State

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He said the exercise had further expanded democratic participation within the ruling party and demonstrated the confidence party members had in the APC leadership and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The APC chairman, who arrived at the venue alongside former Plateau State governor and ex-Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Council, Simon Lalong, was received by the Chairman of Kanke Local Government Council, Hon. Lapchin Golime, amid a large gathering of party faithful.

Speaking with journalists after casting his vote, Yilwatda commended party members for what he described as their discipline, enthusiasm and loyalty to democratic ideals

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“You can see the massive turnout in all the places we visited. It is organic. The support for President Tinubu is organic and the support for the APC is organic,” he said.

“The entire community is coming out to affirm that what we are seeing today will reflect during the general election.

These thousands here are APC members alone. Imagine the turnout when the larger community joins during the election proper.”
Yilwatda maintained
that the ruling party had successfully penetrated rural communities across the country, stressing that many Nigerians now identify with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu.

According to him, the increasing popularity of the APC explains why many politicians are eager to contest on the party’s platform.

“Everybody wants to be in APC because the party is seen as the best vehicle to government. That is why we are confident APC will not lose the election,” he declared.

The APC national chairman, however, acknowledged grievances arising from the primaries but said the party had established mechanisms for reconciliation and conflict resolution.

“In APC, we do not discard dissenting voices. We engage, reconcile and bring everybody together because our goal is not just to win with a few members but to move forward as one united family,” he stated.

He explained that dissatisfaction was inevitable in a competitive political process where only a limited number of tickets were available despite the large number of aspirants seeking elective offices.

“In some states, there may be only one governorship ticket with more than 16 aspirants contesting. For House of Assembly seats, thousands may purchase forms.

Naturally, there will be complaints, but people remain because APC is still the most attractive platform,” he said.

Yilwatda likened the intense competition for APC tickets to the struggle for a valuable prize.

“If a throne is not valuable, nobody fights for it. People compete for APC tickets because they are valuable. The passion and contest reflect the strength and relevance of the party,” he added.

Responding to claims that the APC’s dominance was largely driven by incumbency, the party chairman dismissed the argument, noting that the party had also suffered defeats in some elections.

“If incumbency was everything, how did we lose elections in places like Anambra, the Kano by-election and even the FCT? The truth is that APC continues to win because of grassroots acceptance,” he argued.

He further disclosed that appeal committees had been constituted to address complaints arising from the primaries.

“There are structured channels for aggrieved aspirants. Nobody is declared a final winner until the appeal committees submit their reports and the National Working Committee concludes its review process,” he explained.

Also speaking, former Plateau State governor and Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Lalong, commended President Tinubu and the APC national leadership for sustaining internal democracy within the party.

Lalong described Yilwatda as one of the most impactful national chairmen the party had produced since its formation.

“In my history as a foundation member of APC, no chairman has performed the way he is doing within such a short period,” he said.

He added that the overwhelming turnout witnessed during the exercise reflected the growing confidence Nigerians had in the APC leadership and the Tinubu administration.

“We came here today and saw an incredible crowd. Even till daybreak, you may not finish counting the people trooping in. That tells you the level of support APC enjoys,” he added.

Our correspondent reports that Yilwatda also monitored the primaries in Kanke, Pankshin and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State, where he expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.

LEADERSHIP further reports that the exercise was largely peaceful and rancour-free, with no complaints of late arrival of officials or voting materials, unlike previous primaries conducted in the state.