APC to Tinubu’s Political Appointees: Campaign for the Party or Resign Ahead of 2027

Abuja, Nigeria — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong directive to political appointees serving under President Bola Tinubu, declaring that those unwilling to actively campaign and mobilise support for the party ahead of the 2027 general election should vacate their positions.
The warning was delivered on Wednesday in Abuja by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, during a meeting with members of the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum led by the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Dr. Mustafa Jibrin.
Yilwatda stressed that political appointments are inherently partisan and cannot be separated from the responsibility of advancing the party’s electoral fortunes. According to him, public officials who describe themselves as “technocrats” while avoiding political mobilisation are failing to fulfil an essential aspect of their appointments.
He argued that local government chairmen, being closest to the grassroots, are better positioned than officials in Abuja to assess whether ministers, commissioners, directors-general and other appointees are politically effective in their respective communities.
The APC chairman maintained that administrative performance alone is insufficient if appointees cannot mobilise support for the party in their wards and local governments. He added that anyone unwilling to engage in politics should reject political appointments rather than occupy public office without contributing to the party’s electoral success.
Yilwatda also urged party leaders to identify underperforming appointees and report areas where the APC needs stronger grassroots engagement before the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to grassroots mobilisation, he pledged APC’s full support for the Progressive Local Government Chairmen’s Forum, including its planned inauguration of state coordinators and a nationwide endorsement rally for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Earlier, Dr. Mustafa Jibrin informed the APC leadership that the forum now enjoys the support of more than 685 local government chairmen across 31 APC-controlled states. He said the group aims to deliver at least 70 percent of the total votes cast in the 2027 general election for President Tinubu and plans to organise a mass endorsement rally involving council chairmen and councillors nationwide.
The latest directive signals that the APC is intensifying internal mobilisation efforts well ahead of the 2027 elections, with party leaders insisting that every political appointee must combine governance with active political engagement to secure the party’s electoral objectives.