By Jude Opara
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nantewe Yilwatda, has assured long-standing members of the party that political defectors will not be allowed to dominate or take over its leadership structures.
Yilwatda gave the assurance in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with APC stakeholders from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the party would protect both “legacy members” and new entrants, but stressed that the founding structure of the party must not be displaced by recent defectors.
“It is a home that we built. If the house were not built, nobody would come, so nobody should come as a warrior and take over,” he said.
The APC chairman, however, noted that the party would adopt an inclusive power-sharing arrangement to accommodate all interests and ensure unity within its ranks.
According to him, a structured sharing formula would ensure that both legacy members and defectors are fairly represented in party leadership.
“We must have everybody included. There will be a sharing formula that will ensure that all members of the legacy group and defectors are properly carried along,” he said.
Yilwatda also outlined a proposed five-dimensional inclusion framework for the FCT APC structure, which includes gender representation, geopolitical balance across the six geo-political zones, indigenous inclusion, and youth participation.
He added that women would be given substantive executive roles rather than symbolic positions.
The APC chairman confirmed that a committee led by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, had already worked on zoning arrangements within the FCT chapter, which he said had been implemented.
He further stated that no member had formally complained of exclusion, adding that the party’s constitution would guide upcoming congresses.
Yilwatda also emphasized that defectors seeking executive positions must provide evidence of resignation from their former parties, including acceptance letters from their previous party leadership.
He reaffirmed the party’s constitutional rule on tenure limits, noting that any member who has held the same office for eight consecutive years must step aside or seek another position.
Reiterating his leadership philosophy, Yilwatda said inclusion remains central to his administration of the party.
He also called for stronger participation of women, describing them as key mobilisers who should not be limited to election periods alone.
