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ABUJA – The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged aspirants to remain committed to the party despite their previous electoral disappointments, stressing that their political experience, grassroots connections and mobilisation capacity remained valuable assets to the APC and for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 general election.
Yilwatda made the declaration while receiving members of the Forum of APC House of Representatives Aspirants, led by its Coordinator, Hon. Danjuma Mohammed in Abuja.
The national chairman commended the forum members for standing by the party despite failing to secure tickets in previous primaries, describing their experiences as important lessons that could strengthen their political journey.
“Let me thank you for still standing with the party, even in the midst of your loss. If anybody has contested an election, we can best tell the story better than anybody who has not contested an election before,” Yilwatda said.
He encouraged the aspirants not to give up on their political ambitions, noting that setbacks were part of the political process and should not discourage them from contributing to the party’s growth.
According to him, political journeys come with both pleasant and unpleasant experiences, but aspirants must learn from their challenges and remain hopeful about future opportunities.
“Sometimes in politics, you may plant, and a flood may carry away the whole of the investment you have made. Don’t give up. Life is a combination of sweet and bitter experiences, but ultimately, God has a role in rewarding, even in the hidden,” he said.
Yilwatda assured the aspirants that the APC remained open to all members willing to contribute to its development, urging them to work closely with the party leadership to achieve their collective objectives.
“I want to encourage you to work together with us as partners and believe in me. APC has space for everybody,” he added.
The APC chairman also welcomed politicians who had defected from opposition parties to join the ruling party, describing their decision as an indication of confidence in its leadership and direction.
Earlier, Mohammed said the forum was committed to strengthening the APC and mobilising support for Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other party candidates across the country.
Mohammed said subsequent political developments had led many members to join the APC, where they had resolved to support the Tinubu administration and work towards the party’s success in the 2027 elections.
He noted that the forum’s membership drew from across Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies, giving it a broad network of political contacts, grassroots mobilisers, community leaders and party stakeholders.
The coordinator said the forum intended to deploy this network to support voter engagement, grassroots sensitisation, reconciliation and electoral mobilisation.
He emphasised that the group did not intend to establish a parallel political structure or undermine existing party organs but sought to complement the APC’s efforts through its members’ experience and organisational capacity.
Mohammed also appealed to the party leadership to support the production and nationwide distribution of campaign materials highlighting the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
He said the materials would be translated into major Nigerian languages and disseminated through different media platforms to improve public understanding of the administration’s reform agenda.
The forum further proposed organising political conferences across the six geopolitical zones to promote the administration’s policies and strengthen support for the APC ahead of the next general election.
Mohammed reaffirmed the group’s loyalty to Tinubu, Shettima and the APC leadership, pledging to respect the party’s constitution, abide by its decisions and contribute its resources towards achieving electoral victory.
He expressed confidence that the integration of former aspirants into the party’s mobilisation structure would strengthen its grassroots presence and improve its chances in the 2027 elections.