2027: Yilwatda’s experience as REC, added advantage for APC – Simon Lalong

Former Plateau State Governor and Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, has said that the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda’s experience as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), would be an added advantage for APC in the forthcoming general elections.

Senator Lalong made this assertion on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the new national chairman at the party’s national secretariat.

Checks revealed that Professor Yilwatda was the APC governorship candidate in Plateau State during the last general elections. Further checks showed that the immediate past Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction had served as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State from July 2017 to December 2021.

The former Plateau State Governor maintained that the new APC National Chairman’s experience at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would prove valuable to the ruling party. He also dismissed suggestions that Professor Yilwatda lacks the administrative experience required to lead a political party, unlike former governors who had previously managed the APC.

He said: “I can’t say that he’s a new person. This is somebody who was a REC.

“He was a REC for four years in Benue. After that, he became an aspirant and eventually the candidate of the party. It’s not easy to be nominated as a party candidate.

“After contesting, he became a Minister of the Federal Republic. He was already engaged in humanitarian work when the issue of the national chairmanship came up.

“Anyone who rises to the position of national chairman can no longer be considered new in politics. He is part of the executive and works directly with Mr. President.

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“He has conducted several elections in Nigeria. When you talk about party politics, you’re talking about elections. What is it about elections that an electoral officer doesn’t know? What he knows is an added advantage for APC.”

He continued: “Yes, it used to be that to become national chairman, you had to be a governor or former governor. Gone are those days.

“We have seen people who were not governors becoming national chairmen, and we have also seen former governors in the role who, for one reason or another, didn’t last and were pushed out. But this time, I see a new trend—bridging the gap between the old and the new.

“So, if the focus is on engaging the youth, women, and children, then we need someone who speaks their language—someone who understands them.”

In her remarks, former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, commended President Tinubu for the appointment of Professor Yilwatda, expressing hope that “his emergence will open more doors for greater achievements for Mr. President.”

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