The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that political appointments after the 2027 general elections will be restricted to party members and loyalists, effectively shutting the door on non-party technocrats.
Nentawe made the declaration earlier this week in Abuja at a political mobilisation event titled “Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation,” organised by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo.
According to the APC chairman, governance is inherently political and those entrusted with political appointments must actively defend, promote and mobilise support for the party that brought them to power.
“We should always remember what brought us here — votes. There is no vote called technocrats. Once you are given a political appointment, you are a politician,” Nentawe said.
A video of the remarks went viral on Wednesday, triggering widespread debate across social media and political circles, with supporters applauding the stance and critics warning it could undermine merit-based governance.
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Nentawe insisted that all appointees must be visible in grassroots politics and actively participate in party activities, arguing that detachment from party mobilisation weakens electoral strength.
“As party chairman, I will defend the position that if you are not prepared to join us, you should not be given an appointment. If you want to be a technocrat, go and be a consultant,” he added.
He maintained that government policies are extensions of campaign promises and must be defended by those implementing them, warning that a party cannot retain power if its appointees remain politically aloof.
North-West Central to 2027 Strategy
Describing the North-West as the APC’s “vote bedrock,” Nentawe said the region was decisive in the party’s 2023 victory and would remain crucial in 2027. He disclosed that the zone accounts for about 20 per cent of APC membership nationwide, with youths forming the majority.
“Forty-eight per cent of our registered members in the North-West are between 18 and 35 years. Young people own this party,” he said, noting that members aged 50 and above make up just 17 per cent.
He commended Goronyo for organising the event and pledged to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on mobilisation initiatives that strengthen party unity, urging other ministers to emulate the approach.
Also speaking, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), said the North-West delivered the highest number of votes for the APC in 2023 and must remain united ahead of 2027.
“We are a vote basket and we must retain that. Nobody should labour to win elections while others stroll in to collect appointments and hide behind being technocrats,” she said.
She warned that political appointees who fail to campaign or mobilise for the party would not be tolerated, stressing that appointments come with political obligations.
Implications and Reactions
Political analysts say the policy, if implemented, could affect several senior officials widely regarded as technocrats with limited partisan affiliation, including the Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijjani, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Wada Maida.
Observers have also pointed to potential tensions involving figures such as Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who is not an APC member.
Critics warn that sidelining technocrats in favour of party loyalists could disrupt continuity in key ministries and agencies, weaken institutional capacity and prioritise loyalty over competence.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it would adopt a different approach if elected in 2027. Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said appointments under a PDP government would be based on competence rather than party loyalty alone.
“When we win, we will run a system that blends politicians and technocrats. The key determinant will be what the appointee brings to the table,” he said.
Political analysts have raised red flags over the APC chairman’s remarks, warning that loyalty-driven appointments could weaken public institutions and deepen patronage politics.
Abubakar Ibrahim, a political scientist at the Federal University of Lafia, said such a policy risks marginalising merit and eroding public trust, while Usman Aliyu Hayatu, a Zaria-based analyst, described the approach as “dangerously alarming.”
“When loyalty becomes the main criterion, competence declines and institutions risk becoming extensions of the ruling party rather than vehicles for national development,” Hayatu warned.
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 elections, Nentawe’s remarks have sharpened the debate over the balance between political loyalty and professional competence in governance.
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