2027: APC Tells Tinubu Appointees to Deliver Politically or Step Aside

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that political appointees serving under President Bola Tinubu cannot distance themselves from partisan politics while occupying government positions, warning that anyone unwilling to mobilise support for the party ahead of the 2027 general election should resign.

The party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, issued the warning 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.

The delegation briefed the APC leadership on its nationwide grassroots mobilisation strategy aimed at strengthening support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Addressing the council chairmen, Yilwatda said local government officials were in the best position to assess whether political appointees were making meaningful political contributions within their communities, regardless of their administrative achievements.

“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,” he said.

The APC chairman stressed that holding a political appointment automatically comes with political responsibilities, dismissing claims by some office holders that they are merely technocrats.

“We call them political appointees. There is a word ‘political’ there. They are not just technocrats. They are political appointees. You can’t be holding a political position and then say you are not a politician. I have been hearing some people saying that, ‘I am not a politician,’ but they are holding political appointments. It is like somebody who has Yoruba or Kanuri tribal marks telling you that he is not a Yoruba or Kanuri man. It cannot happen,” he said.

Yilwatda maintained that individuals who prefer to remain outside partisan politics should reject political appointments rather than occupy offices without contributing to the party’s electoral fortunes.

He emphasised that sustaining political power depends on grassroots mobilisation and electoral support.

“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. That is why we need you to work with these people. Tell them they are not doing well. Tell them where we need to work harder. Tell them where we have leakages so that we can win the election,” he said.

The APC national chairman also assured the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum of the party’s full support for its mobilisation activities across the country.

He endorsed the forum’s plans to inaugurate state coordinators and organise a large-scale endorsement rally for President Tinubu in Abuja ahead of the 2027 polls.

“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 said.

Yilwatda further pledged that the APC leadership would actively participate in the forum’s political engagements without waiting for formal invitations, saying party leaders should naturally identify with initiatives aimed at strengthening the APC.

Earlier, the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area and leader of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, Dr Mustafa Jibrin, informed the APC chairman that the forum now enjoys the support of more than 685 local government chairmen across the country, as well as 31 state governors elected on the party’s platform.

According to him, the group is working towards delivering at least 70 per cent of the total votes cast in the 2027 general election for the APC.

Jibrin also disclosed that Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago endorsed his emergence as leader of the forum and revealed plans to mobilise all 685 council chairmen, alongside councillors nationwide, for a formal endorsement of President Tinubu’s second-term bid on a date to be announced by the party’s national leadership.