The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned political appointees serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration that they must actively support and mobilise for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election or be prepared to vacate their positions.
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 grassroots mobilisation strategy aimed at strengthening the party’s support base ahead of the next general elections.
Addressing the forum, Yilwatda stressed that political appointments come with political responsibilities, insisting that appointees cannot distance themselves from party activities under the guise of being technocrats.
“You cannot hide behind the claim of being a technocrat to avoid your political responsibilities. If you accept a political appointment, you must also play your role as a politician,” he said.
He added that individuals unwilling to participate in partisan politics should not accept political appointments in the first place.
The APC chairman also charged local government chairmen to closely monitor the political engagement of government appointees within their respective communities and report those who fail to contribute to the party’s grassroots activities.
According to him, council chairmen are best positioned to assess whether appointees are politically active in their wards.
“You know who is delivering politically at the grassroots. An appointee may be performing well in office, but if they have no political presence in their ward, that is a problem. Anyone who accepts a political appointment must also accept the responsibilities that come with politics,” Yilwatda stated.
He maintained that the APC’s prospects in the 2027 elections would depend largely on effective grassroots mobilisation rather than administrative performance alone.
Yilwatda urged the local government chairmen to identify underperforming political appointees, point out areas requiring improvement, and highlight weaknesses that should be addressed to strengthen the party’s electoral chances.
He assured the forum of the party’s full support for its mobilisation efforts, including the inauguration of state coordinators and the organisation of a mass endorsement rally for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in Abuja.
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