The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared itself fully prepared, politically healthy, and strategically oiled to sweep the 2027 general elections.
The ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC), alongside elected members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and state chapter chairmen, arrived at the resolution following an exhaustive three-day strategic retreat held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the meeting, themed ‘Strengthening Party Organisation, Unity, and Electoral Readiness Towards 2027,’ the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, declared that a thorough review of the party’s operations across all levels gave the ruling party a clean bill of health.
‘At the retreat, the party took a deep dive into our structures at the national, state, local government, ward, down to the polling unit levels,’ Yilwatda stated. ‘After reviewing our performance, we gave a clean bill of health to the APC. We feel strongly that the party is strong, healthy, prepared, and oiled for the 2027 general election.’
Emphasising internal cohesion, the party unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, affirming its full backing for their re-election bid alongside all other candidates produced through official primary processes for the 2027 polls.
‘We strongly believe that we have produced some of the most credible, acceptable, and prepared candidates to serve the people of Nigeria,’ the Chairman asserted, calling on Nigerians and party faithful to come out in mass to re-elect the President for a second term to consolidate ongoing reforms.
Prof. Yilwatda highlighted the party’s shifting electoral fortunes, noting that the NWC will henceforth ‘drive campaigns from the front’ in off-cycle and by-elections to spotlight the achievements of the current administration.
Pointing to recent electoral outings, the national chairman noted that the APC has broken new ground in areas traditionally considered opposition strongholds.
‘We are impressed with the excellent performance of our party, even in areas and states that traditionally were weak before,’ Yilwatda noted, citing historic senatorial victories in states like Delta and God’s state, alongside a dominant performance in recent by-elections where the party won four out of five contested seats.
The APC leadership also condoled with the government and people of Niger State following the tragic loss of 37 miners.
‘Our prayers and hearts are with the people of Niger State over that painful loss,’ the Chairman expressed.
Closing the briefing, Prof. Yilwatda expressed profound appreciation to the government and people of Borno State for their warm hospitality during the three-day event, while commending Nigerians nationwide for three years of organic support for the party and the Tinubu-led administration.
Responding to questions from newsmen, the APC National Chairman noted that their party remains the party to beat in the 2027 election, describing the opposition as ‘cut-and-join political parties.’
Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Academic Forum has endorsed President Tinubu and Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, for a second term in office.
The academics announced their endorsement during an interactive session with Governor Namadi at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Dutse, the state capital.
The forum, comprising academics from institutions of higher learning across the country, said the endorsement followed their assessment of the achievements of the Tinubu administration at the federal level and Namadi’s administration in Jigawa State.
Speaking after the meeting, Chairman of the Jigawa State Academic Forum, Prof. Haruna Birniwa, said more than 2,000 academics attended the gathering physically, while others were unavoidably absent.
He said: ‘Those of us here physically present, about 2,000 plus, and others who are unavoidably absent, make an unflinching support for our amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Malam Umar Namadi to continue for a second term.’
During the interaction, Governor Namadi reviewed his administration’s achievements over the past three years in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, economic empowerment and employment, in line with his administration’s 12-Point Agenda.
He also highlighted the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration, which he said had impacted positively on the country and Jigawa State.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the endorsement, Governor Namadi said the meeting was initially planned to attract about 700 academics but more than 2,000 attended.
He said the large turnout demonstrated the academics’ interest in developments in the country and the state.
Namadi said: ‘After all the presentations we made to them, they were able to appreciate what Mr President has done for Nigeria and what he has done also for Jigawa State.
‘At the same time, they appreciated what we have done for Jigawa State. They were very happy with what we have done and they were also happy with the President.
‘So, at the same time, they endorsed both the President and myself for a second term. That is the climax of this meeting, and we really appreciate what they have done.’
The governor said the endorsement showed that the academics were following developments in the country and assessing the performance of the administrations objectively.
He assured the academics that his administration would continue to improve the lives of the people and would not disappoint those who supported its programmes and policies.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, described the endorsement as significant.
Masari said he was pleased that academics in Jigawa had expressed their support for President Tinubu and Governor Namadi.
He urged the academics to continue to engage with government and encourage both administrations to sustain and improve on their achievements over the past three years.