The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has accused several politicians previously supported by President Bola Tinubu of withdrawing their backing when he declared his presidential ambition in 2023.
Yilwatda made the allegation on Friday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja while welcoming opposition members from Sokoto, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano and Plateau states into the party.
He cited Tinubu’s support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in 2007, Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 and former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019 as evidence of his commitment to national unity.
According to him, Tinubu continued to support Buhari even when some northern political leaders withdrew their backing.
The APC chairman urged the defectors to support Tinubu and his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing their decision to join the party as a demonstration of confidence in the President.
He also defended the administration’s performance in northern Nigeria, citing the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maiduguri road projects, as well as rail development initiatives.
Yilwatda criticised opposition politicians over their economic proposals, arguing that a promised N500-per-litre fuel price would impose a huge financial burden on the country. He also accused Atiku of selling public assets below their construction costs during the privatisation exercise.
His remarks come amid growing political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the APC and opposition parties exchanging criticism over economic policies, infrastructure and their respective records in government.
