The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has held Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, responsible for the party’s failure in the 2023 elections in Plateau State.
The Forum’s reaction follows remarks made by Yilwatda during an interview on Arise TV, where he dismissed the group and questioned its legitimacy.
It would be recalled that the Forum had earlier faulted Yilwatda’s approach to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Plateau, especially the plight of displaced persons after herdsmen attacks.
Responding on Arise TV, Yilwatda downplayed the Forum, describing it as “an unrecognized entity” and questioning the membership status of its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga.
He also accused the Forum of being in the habit of attacking party leaders, including himself, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
In a statement on Saturday, the Forum said:
“Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said we attacked him. That is absolutely not true. As committed stakeholders of the APC in the North-Central, we advised him to put in more effort at addressing humanitarian challenges in the region, especially the displacement of thousands of people in Plateau, his home state.”
“We felt it was necessary that we speak out because of the travails of our people who have been left helpless and hopeless, without any assistance, after being displaced from their homes.”
Zazzaga explained: “We offered the advice because we understand that he is relatively new in the political system, so those of us who have been in the system for long felt obligated to help out in the way we can. It was an advice and not an attack as he wrongfully interpreted.”
The Forum blamed Yilwatda’s refusal to heed advice as a major reason APC lost both the governorship and presidential elections in Plateau.
“One of the reasons APC lost both presidential and governorship election in Plateau was because he instructed his associates to vote for Labour Party in the presidential election.”
According to the Forum, Yilwatda’s candidacy in the governorship primaries did not reflect the popular will of party members and was largely the result of internal party arrangements.
On claims of not recognizing the Forum, it stated:
“The North-Central APC Forum has its structure in the entire region with membership cutting across various sectors. We have former senators and members of the House of Representatives, former commissioners, professors, activists, entrepreneurs, traditional and religious leaders and others as members.”
The group further said it did not attack Ganduje or Akume, explaining that it only agitated for fairness and inclusion when the party chairmanship was zoned to the North-Central.
Chairman of the Forum, Zazzaga, also dismissed claims that Yilwatda was unaware of his membership in the APC. He stated:
“Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said he don’t know if I am a member of the APC. That is not true. He knows very well that I served as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election.”
The Forum also announced the withdrawal of a 7-day ultimatum previously issued to the Plateau APC EXCO, apologizing for the misunderstanding.
Despite the tensions, the Forum maintained its call for Governor Caleb Mutfwang to return to the APC, citing his political experience and popularity in the state.
