The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not threatened by the defection of some federal lawmakers to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said yesterday.
He said the ruling party remains the best platform for the country, stressing that the NDC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are “fishing from the same pond.”
Yilwatda spoke at the APC National Secretariat after inspecting the sale and submission of nomination forms by aspirants for various elective offices.
Yesterday, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party approved a screening waiver for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The clearance followed the President’s endorsement for a second term last year by key party organs, including the NWC, the National Assembly Caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and state chapters.
Yilwatda described the APC as an “unstoppable beehive of activities,” saying the defections and internal bickering within opposition parties are mere “distractions in a different pond.”
But ADC National Caretaker Chairman Senator David Mark said the party was ready to confront the ruling party at the polls.
Yilwatda expressed delight at the massive turnout of aspirants, noting that the crowd is a testament to the party’s grassroots acceptance.
He insisted that the APC is strong and formidable, adding that defections from one opposition party to another cannot cause the ruling party sleepless nights.
He said the defection of three senators and 17 House of Representatives members to the NDC was not a shocker, adding that the figure is statistically insignificant.
Yilwatda said: “What do you call a shocker? You said 17 lawmakers out of over 400 – about 459. Seventeen out of 459 is less than five per cent. Should I be worried about that? I am not worried.
“None of those defecting is from our party. They are only fishing from the same pond. If someone defects from ADC to another NDC opposition party, how does that affect APC?”
The chairman alluded to friction within opposition ranks, saying their leaders have resorted to “insulting themselves” rather than preparing for the polls.
He added: “Just yesterday, I listened to the fight between opposition leaders; they are breaking into pieces, and I’m sure they will blame us for their internal crisis.
“Nigerians are seeing that the fight is not APC versus opposition; it is opposition versus opposition.
“One group is calling another corrupt, while another group says some people cannot withstand competition.”
Yilwatda noted that the level of interest in APC tickets across the six geopolitical zones confirmed that Nigerians are satisfied with the party’s direction.
He said: “As you can see, this place is a beehive of activities, and it shows the acceptance of our party across the country. All the political zones are busy. People are here in their numbers, in their droves, trying to submit their forms.
“Nigerians are happy with what APC is doing. They love the party, they accept the party, and the party cuts across all the geo-political zones.”
But the chairman ruled out further extension of the sale of forms, citing the strict timelines in the Electoral Act.
He said: “We are time-bound. We would have loved to extend it, but the Electoral Act also limits the timeline we have to conduct our primaries.
“We want to give ourselves some time so that we don’t fall into any trap in any form.”
Yilwatda emphasised the party’s willingness to allow open competition, even against high-ranking incumbents, as a badge of democratic honour.
He said: “We opened up our party. Everyone is buying forms, including the presidential ticket. We have a sitting President, yet people are buying forms to contest against him. We allowed it.
“Sitting governors are being challenged; senators are being challenged. Even the Senate President and the Speaker are being challenged. The level of democracy in APC is second to none.”
Yilwatda assured aspirants of a seamless screening process, saying the “dominance and mobilisation” seen at the secretariat are early signs of a landslide victory for the APC in next year’s elections.
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