The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned political appointees serving under President Bola Tinubu to actively mobilise support for the party ahead of the 2027 general election or resign from their positions.
The warning was issued on Wednesday by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, while receiving members of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, led by the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Dr Mustafa Jibrin, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Yilwatda said political appointees could not distance themselves from partisan politics under the guise of being technocrats, stressing that anyone occupying a political office must also contribute to the party’s electoral success.
“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 insisted that political appointments come with political responsibilities, adding that office holders could not claim neutrality while benefiting from positions secured through politics.
“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 further advised individuals unwilling to participate in partisan activities to reject political appointments rather than distance themselves from the party after assuming office.
“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.
He assured the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum of the APC’s full support for its grassroots mobilisation drive, including plans to inaugurate its state coordinators and organise a mass endorsement rally for President Tinubu.
“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.
Earlier, Jibrin told the APC leadership that the forum now has the backing of more than 685 local government chairmen and 31 governors elected on the party’s platform. He added that the group was targeting at least 70 per cent of the votes cast in the 2027 presidential election for the APC and was planning a nationwide mobilisation to endorse President Tinubu’s re-election quest.
