According to Ireporter Online, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that individuals defecting from opposition parties will not be allowed to automatically assume leadership positions within the ruling party’s structures.
Yilwatda made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with APC stakeholders from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he addressed concerns surrounding integration and internal party leadership balance.
He explained that any defector seeking executive or leadership roles within the party must first provide verifiable proof of resignation from their former political party, including an officially acknowledged resignation letter endorsed by the relevant party leadership.
According to him, “If you are in opposition, you must give a resignation letter and show evidence of resignation and acceptance of your resignation by your former party chairman.”
The APC national chairman further emphasized the distinction between founding or long-standing members of the party and new entrants, stressing that both groups would be accommodated without allowing any to dominate the other.
He stated that the party was built through collective effort and should not be overtaken by new entrants seeking undue advantage, adding, “It is a home that we built. If the house was not built, nobody will come, so nobody should come as a warrior and take over.”
Yilwatda, however, noted that the party leadership was working on an inclusive power-sharing arrangement designed to ensure fair representation for both legacy members and defectors, in order to maintain unity and internal cohesion within the APC
He added that, “We must have everybody included; there will be a sharing formula that will ensure that all members of the legacy group and defectors are properly carried along.”
