- This is not the first time the APC has held its NEC meeting at the presidential villa, as a similar meeting was held at the same venue in 2020.
- ADC asked APC to avoid turning national institutions into extensions of political operations or partisan activity.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for holding its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting inside the state house, Abuja.
The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated on Friday that the state house was neither a party facility nor a private property.
The ruling party had convened its NEC meeting on Thursday within the premises of the presidential villa.
During the gathering, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, emerged as the new National Chairman of the APC.
Professor Yilwatda took over from Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down from the position in June.
While reacting to the development, Abdullahi said his party hoped that Yilwatda’s emergence “might trigger a shift in tone, temperament, and trajectory for a party that has too often equated governance with propaganda, and power with impunity”.
He added that the opposition expected the new chairman to steer the APC towards greater openness and tolerance for opposing views.
“We hope Professor Yilwatda will channel his high education and experience towards improving the democratic credentials of his party and its government, which, so far, has been marked by intolerance and what has often appeared like deliberate plan to eliminate all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on the country,” the statement reads.
“This is why we must register our dismay that the very National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office was held within the confines of the State House — a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence.
“The decision of the ruling party to host its party meeting at the seat of government is an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability.
“We urge the new Chairman to guide his party towards respecting the line — now dangerously blurred — between party and state.
“Furthermore, we take note of Professor Yilwatda’s previous role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
“This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust.
“We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch.
“In closing, we pray for Professor Yilwatda that may his tenure be longer than those of his predecessors and his exit more honourable.”