Abuja: A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Ita Enang, has called on the party’s newly elected National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, to take steps to reposition the party ahead of 2027. Enang made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Yilwatda was recently elected to succeed Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down from the position, citing health reasons. Enang, a former Senior Special Assistant to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, said that Yilwatda’s leadership came at a critical time in the party’s history.
Enang welcomed the new National Chairman, noting that his experience as an engineer is now required to re-engineer the internal workings and political direction of the APC. He acknowledged Yilwatda’s earlier role in strengthening the party in the Northern bloc, describing it as a positive start. Enang also advised the chairman to critically examine the events that led to the exit of previous party leaders.
He urged Yilwatda to study the history behind the departures of Abdullahi Adamu and Abdullahi Ganduje to identify the pitfalls and avoid them. Enang emphasized that missteps create challenges, and the key is to recognize and navigate them effectively.
The former lawmaker commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership of both the country and the APC. Enang noted that President Tinubu’s leadership is strategic, as he remains attentive to the party and the coalition that brought him to power.
Commenting on the emergence of a new coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Enang said that the development offered the APC a strategic advantage. He stated that the APC should celebrate the ADC and other opposition coalitions, as they expose public sentiments and opposition strategies that can be addressed in advance.
Enang remarked that unlike the APC’s unexpected rise in 2015, which caught the then-ruling PDP unprepared, the ADC coalition had revealed its strategy too early. He suggested that this premature unveiling gives the APC time to prepare and respond effectively.
Enang further urged the APC leadership to maintain internal cohesion by acknowledging long-standing members and equitably distributing roles and opportunities within the party. He emphasized that the APC must recognize the contributions of those who sustained the party during difficult times, alongside celebrating newcomers.
