National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that Plateau State will deliver over one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, citing the party’s growing dominance and collapse of opposition structures in the state.
Yilwatda made the declaration on Tuesday at an APC stakeholders’ meeting for Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency, held at MNS Resort Hotel, Pankshin.
According to him, the APC is now far stronger in Plateau than it was in 2023, stressing that the political forces that once posed serious opposition to the party have now aligned with it.
“All the stumbling blocks we had in 2023 are no longer there. Those who opposed us then have joined us now including the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, commissioners, local government chairmen and other political appointees”.
He described PKK as the traditional stronghold of the APC, recalling that President Tinubu recorded some of his highest votes in the area during the 2023 presidential election.
“Out of the three local governments in PKK, President Tinubu won two. The Senate seats were APC, the House of Representatives was APC, and most members of the Plateau State House of Assembly were APC. APC has always been PKK, and PKK has always been APC,” he stated.
The APC National chairman said the party had overcome intense opposition in the past but now enjoys a united political front, which he described as “a movement without friction.”
“Come 2027, I can assure you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will pull some of his highest votes here both in numbers and in percentage. There is no ward, no polling unit in PKK that we will not win. Politics is a game of numbers, and our target is over one million votes,” he declared.
Yilwatda noted that the party’s numerical strength has increased significantly with the influx of key political actors into the APC.
“Today, we have the governor, the National Chairman, all members of the House of Representatives, all members of the House of Assembly minus one, all senators minus one, all commissioners, councillors and local government chairmen. At both state and federal levels, we are now one family. This is an addition to our party,” he said.
The APC leader also pledged to stop criticising Governor Mutfwang publicly, noting that party unity now gives him direct access to governance.
“I will no longer criticise from outside. Now I have access. If the government gets it wrong, I can pick up the phone, visit the governor and discuss how to do better. That is the right way to build governance,” he explained.
Addressing concerns by some party members over the influx of new entrants, Yilwatda assured that no one would hijack the party structure.
“Nobody is coming to take over this party. There are many rooms and many chairs. APC gives equal rights and privileges to everyone, whether you joined today or ten years ago”.
He directed party leaders across wards and local governments to celebrate new members, including those defecting from the PDP and other parties.
“Go back to your wards. Welcome them. Celebrate them. Give them tea, coffee and bread. This party is not for one group alone”.
Yilwatda also highlighted key reforms under his leadership, including digital membership registration, expansion of APC’s electoral dominance nationwide, and plans for a new National Secretariat in Abuja.
“Today, we have over 100 senators, nearly 300 members of the House of Representatives and 29 governors. When I became chairman, Plateau was PDP. Today, Plateau is APC,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Senator Diket Plang Plateau Central, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam, and the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Na’anlong Daniel, commended Yilwatda’s leadership and pledged loyalty to President Tinubu, Governor Mutfwang and the APC.
They assured that Plateau would deliver its highest-ever vote tally for the APC in 2027 as the home state of the party’s national chairman.
Also speaking on behalf of APC elders, Professor Saleh Kanam, alongside commissioners Hon. Ephraim Usman and council chairman Hon. Lapchin Golime, pledged unwavering loyalty to the party.
The stakeholders’ meeting drew a large crowd of party officials at state and local government levels, including youths, women, ward chairmen, LGC chairmen, former national and state assembly members, former commissioners, and former local government chairmen and councillors from Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam local government areas.
