The North-Central APC Forum has accused the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, of obstructing Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a Sunday statement, the forum, led by Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, alleged that Yilwatda, who lost the 2023 governorship election to Mutfwang, is prioritizing his own 2027 political ambitions over party growth and has failed to unite the North-Central region. The forum criticized Yilwatda for making divisive remarks at a church, claiming to represent Christians in the region. Zazzaga claimed Yilwatda lacks political exposure and is deepening divisions. The forum urged the APC leadership to appoint a more competent national chairman at the planned December convention, though they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Tinubu and pledged to deliver North-Central votes in 2027.
The North-Central APC Forum is a factional group, and Yilwatda’s team often dismisses such claims. I will search for a counter-statement.
The North-Central APC Forum has accused the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, of obstructing Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a Sunday statement, the forum, led by Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, alleged that Yilwatda, who lost the 2023 governorship election to Mutfwang, is prioritizing his own 2027 political ambitions over party growth and has failed to unite the North-Central region. The forum criticized Yilwatda for making divisive remarks at a church, claiming to represent Christians in the region. Zazzaga claimed Yilwatda lacks political exposure and is deepening divisions. Consequently, the forum urged the APC leadership to consider appointing a more competent national chairman at the party’s planned December convention, though they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Tinubu and pledged to deliver North-Central votes in 2027.
While there is no direct response from Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda to this latest accusation, other groups have spoken in his defense. The Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum (NENF) released a statement praising Yilwatda’s leadership as “phenomenal” and dismissing the North-Central APC Forum’s claims as the work of “political scavengers” threatened by stability and reforms within the party. NENF argues that the forum is not in a position to speak for the region and reaffirmed its total confidence in Yilwatda’s leadership. Yilwatda’s camp has previously dismissed similar claims about blocking Mutfwang as “pure speculation and political mischief.”
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