The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has warn the newly elected
national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda,
against use his knowledge of the Independent National Electoral
Commission to manipulate future elections in favour of the ruling party.
In a statement released on Friday, ADC spokesperson Bola Abdullahi
said Yilwatda’s previous position as a INEC Resident Electoral
Commissioner placed him in a unique position of influence, one that must
be used to uphold electoral integrity rather than compromise it.
The opposition party also criticized President Bola Tinubu for allowing the
APC’s National Executive Committee meeting, where Yilwatda was
elected, to be held inside the Aso Villa.
Abdullahi further urged the APC boss to foster an environment where
opposition parties can thrive without fear or intimidation.
According to him, the APC and the federal government it controls will start
to show greater tolerance for opposition voices and alternative viewpoints
with the understanding that in a democracy, disagreement is not sabotage,
and criticism is not subversion.
The ADC’s statement comes just a day after Yilwatda, who also serves as
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was elected to
replace Abdullahi Ganduje as APC national chairman.
Born on August 8, 1968, Yilwatda served as INEC Resident Electoral
Commissioner in Benue State between 2017 and 2021.
