APC Chair Yilwatda: Peter Obi's Party Hopping Started Before Our Influence

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, recently refuted claims suggesting the ruling party is instigating turmoil and defections within rival political organizations. He highlighted that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has a long history of changing his political affiliation, dating back to 2014, a period predating any perceived influence from the APC.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with Channels Television, Yilwatda addressed allegations from opposition figures that the APC is intentionally weakening competing parties in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. The APC chairman argued that the former Anambra State governor's frequent transitions between political platforms began well before the current administration took power, thus making it impossible to attribute these actions to the ruling party.

"No member of the APC was responsible for Peter Obi's departure from the PDP. Likewise, no one from the APC compelled Obi to leave the Labour Party. We certainly did not push him from the Labour Party to the ADC, nor did we force him from the ADC to the NDC," Yilwatda stated. He continued, "His pattern of moving between parties commenced much earlier, specifically in 2014, during President Jonathan's tenure. How then can the APC be accused of chasing him around from 2015 to date, especially when we were still in opposition at the time?"

Yilwatda's remarks come amidst ongoing accusations from Obi and other opposition leaders, who allege that the APC is deliberately engineering internal crises within opposition parties and encouraging defections to undermine political opponents ahead of the 2027 polls. When confronted with claims that the APC was behind the issues plaguing the Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other opposition groups, Yilwatda dismissed them as self-inflicted wounds. "These are individuals who have brought these problems upon themselves. They are perpetually migrating from one party to another," he asserted.

Drawing a parallel, Yilwatda distinguished the foundational principles of the APC from the current dynamics within the opposition coalition. He explained that the APC, established in 2013, was built upon a shared vision rather than individual ambitions. He noted that President Bola Tinubu, then the former Lagos State governor, served as a unifying force during the APC's formation, without actively pursuing the presidency at that juncture.

Conversely, he suggested that contemporary opposition leaders are primarily driven by the pursuit of platforms that can guarantee them electoral tickets. "After leaving the Labour Party, he moved to the ADC. Upon joining the ADC, he realized he couldn’t secure an automatic ticket. That prompted his move to the NDC, where he has now successfully obtained his ticket," Yilwatda elaborated. He added, "If our intention was to destabilize Obi, we would have prevented him from securing a ticket, assuming we had that kind of control, which we do not."

Yilwatda also categorically denied any infiltration of opposition parties by APC members to create instability. "There isn't a single APC member within the ADC, nor is there one in the NDC," he confirmed. However, the APC chairman acknowledged that attracting politicians from rival parties is an inherent aspect of his responsibilities. When asked directly if the APC actively seeks defections, Yilwatda responded, "Certainly, we do. We engage in such activities." He further clarified, "That is indeed a core part of my role as the national party chairman. It is integral to my function to galvanize and mobilize the party's growth."

Furthermore, Yilwatda rejected any notion that politicians who join the APC automatically evade scrutiny regarding corruption allegations. "Never. Many individuals within the APC have faced prosecution," he affirmed. Obi's recent political transitions have ignited considerable debate concerning the stability of opposition parties, particularly his moves from the Labour Party to the ADC, and subsequently to the NDC, where he ultimately secured the presidential candidacy for the 2027 elections.