The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that political appointments after the 2027 general elections will be limited strictly to committed party members, excluding non-APC technocrats and professionals.
He made this declaration on Tuesday night in Abuja at the “Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation” event organised by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo. According to Nentawe, governance is inseparable from politics, and those appointed into government must actively defend and promote the party that brought them to power.
A video of his remarks went viral on Wednesday, sparking widespread debate across social media. While party loyalists welcomed the stance, critics expressed concern that it could weaken merit-based governance.
Nentawe argued that political appointments are not meant for detached professionals, stressing that all appointees must be visible at the grassroots and participate fully in party activities. He dismissed the idea of neutral technocrats in government, insisting that anyone given a political role automatically becomes a politician.
“We should always remember what brought us here — votes. There is no vote called technocrats. Once you accept a political appointment, you are a politician,” he said.
The APC chairman maintained that only individuals willing to work openly for the party should be considered for appointments, advising professionals who prefer neutrality to operate as consultants instead.
“As party chairman, I will defend the position that if you are not ready to join us, you should not be appointed. Government policies are campaign promises, and those implementing them must defend, explain, and promote them,” he added.
He warned that over-reliance on technocrats who avoid political mobilisation could weaken the party’s chances of retaining power.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the North-West, Nentawe described the region as the APC’s electoral backbone, noting that it contributed significantly to the party’s success in the 2023 elections and would remain crucial in 2027. He revealed that about 20 per cent of the APC’s membership nationwide comes from the region, with youths forming the majority.
“About 48 per cent of registered members in the North-West are between 18 and 35 years old. This means young people own this party,” he said, adding that members aged 50 and above account for just 17 per cent.
He commended Goronyo for organising the mobilisation event and promised to ensure the president is briefed on initiatives that promote party unity and grassroots engagement.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), Hadiza Bala-Usman, said the North-West delivered the highest number of votes for the APC in 2023 and must remain united to improve on that performance in 2027.
“We are a vote basket and we must protect it. Nobody should work hard to win elections while others walk in to collect appointments and hide behind the label of technocrats,” she said.
Bala-Usman warned that political appointees who fail to campaign or mobilise for the party would not be tolerated, stressing that public office comes with clear political responsibilities.
“Once you are a political appointee, you must show up, be visible, and actively support the party,” she added.