By Peter Omopo
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed confidence that Plateau State will deliver more than one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made the declaration on Tuesday during an APC stakeholders’ meeting for the Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency, held in Pankshin, Plateau State.
According to the APC chairman, the party is stronger in Plateau than it was during the 2023 elections, attributing the renewed momentum to the collapse of opposition structures and the influx of key political actors into the ruling party.
He said political forces that previously challenged the APC in the state have now aligned with the party, including Governor Caleb Mutfwang, commissioners, local government chairmen and other political appointees.
“All the stumbling blocks we had in 2023 are no longer there. Those who opposed us then have joined us now,” Yilwatda said.
Describing PKK as a traditional stronghold of the APC, he recalled that President Tinubu recorded significant electoral victories in the area during the last presidential election.
“Out of the three local governments in PKK, President Tinubu won two. The Senate seats were APC, the House of Representatives was APC, and most members of the Plateau State House of Assembly were APC. APC has always been PKK, and PKK has always been APC,” he stated.
Yilwatda said the party now enjoys a united political front, which he described as a “movement without friction,” adding that the APC was well positioned to sweep all polling units in the constituency in 2027.
“Come 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will record some of his highest votes here, both in numbers and in percentage. There is no ward or polling unit in PKK that we will not win. Our target is over one million votes,” he declared.
He noted that the APC’s numerical strength has expanded significantly with the entry of top political office holders at both state and federal levels.
“Today, we have the governor, the National Chairman, members of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Assembly minus one, senators minus one, commissioners, councillors and local government chairmen. We are now one family,” he said.
The APC chairman also said he would no longer criticise the Plateau State government publicly, explaining that party unity now allows for constructive engagement.
“If the government gets it wrong, I can pick up the phone, visit the governor and discuss how to do better. That is the right way to build governance,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the influx of new members, Yilwatda assured party faithful that no individual or group would hijack the party structure.
“Nobody is coming to take over this party. APC gives equal rights and privileges to everyone, whether you joined today or 10 years ago,” he said, urging party leaders at ward and local government levels to warmly receive new entrants.
He also highlighted reforms under his leadership, including the introduction of digital membership registration, expansion of the party’s national footprint and plans to construct a new APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, Senator Diket Plang, Plateau Central, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, and the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Na’anlong Daniel, commended Yilwatda’s leadership and pledged their loyalty to President Tinubu, Governor Mutfwang and the APC.
They assured party members that Plateau State would deliver its highest-ever vote tally for the APC in the 2027 elections.
Also speaking on behalf of APC elders, Professor Saleh Kanam, alongside commissioners Ephraim Usman and council chairman Lapchin Golime, pledged continued loyalty to the party.
The stakeholders’ meeting attracted a large turnout of party officials and members from across Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam local government areas, including youths, women, ward and local government chairmen, current and former lawmakers, commissioners and councillors.
