The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that political appointments after the 2027 general elections will be limited to party loyalists, ruling out the inclusion of technocrats or professionals who are not actively involved in party politics.
Yilwatda made the assertion on Tuesday night in Abuja while speaking at an event titled “Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation,” organised by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo.
He stressed that governance is fundamentally political and that those appointed into government must support and participate in the activities of the party that secured electoral victory.
A video clip of his remarks surfaced online on Wednesday and quickly gained traction across social media platforms, sparking widespread reactions nationwide. While many APC supporters welcomed the stance as a reinforcement of party discipline, critics and political analysts expressed concerns that it could weaken merit-based governance and exclude competent professionals.
According to the APC chairman, political appointees are expected to be visible at the grassroots level and play active roles in party mobilisation, arguing that electoral success, not technical expertise alone, brings leaders to power.
“We should always look back and remind ourselves of what brought us here. It is votes. There is no vote called technocrats. Once you are given a political appointment, you are a politician. Simple,” he said.
Yilwatda maintained that he would firmly uphold the principle that appointments should be reserved for individuals committed to advancing the APC’s political interests.
“As party chairman, I will stand strong to defend the position that if you are not prepared to join us, you shouldn’t be given an appointment. If you are a technocrat, go and be a consultant,” he added, calling on appointees to balance governance responsibilities with active political engagement.
