Northcentral APC Forum cries out over marginalisation
From Dele Anofi, Abuja The Northcentral chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has accused the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, of sidelining its members over their role in
From Dele Anofi, Abuja
The Northcentral chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has accused the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, of sidelining its members over their role in facilitating the defection of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, to the party.
The forum, comprising stakeholders across the zone, had led efforts to persuade Muftwang to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
The governor joined the party in January alongside members of his administration, including the state executive council.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the forum alleged that despite welcoming Muftwang, the national chairman has acted in ways suggesting dissatisfaction with the defection.
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“We want to place it on the record that the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, is sidelining our members in the APC Northcentral Forum simply because we championed the campaign for Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang to come to the party.
“It is quite unfortunate that a party national chairman does not understand politics as a game of interest.
“It is on record that we were the ones that agitated for the position of national chairman, which Prof Yilwatda is occupying today, to return to the North-Central.
“Rather than appreciate our contributions, he is sidelining our members despite our contributions to the development of the party and our commitment to the re-election of Mr President in 2027. He is working very hard to reduce our power and influence in the party,” the forum explained.
The forum said its members were being marginalised despite their role in securing the return of the party’s national chairmanship to the Northcentral zone.
It maintained that neither the forum nor the Plateau governor opposed Yilwatda’s leadership. It stated: “Governor Muftwang took him as a brother and is not opposing his position as party national chairman.
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“Even as members of the APC Northcentral Forum, we are not against him continuing as the national chairman because we know what it took us to fight for the position.
“It is very unfortunate and disheartening that the national chairman is holding grudges with us simply because we campaigned for Governor Muftwang to come into the party.
“We are calling on leaders and elders of the party to advise the national chairman about politics being a game of interests, for the development of the society. It is a game of understanding.”
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It alleged that while the national chairman had pledged support for the governor, his actions suggest otherwise.
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“Our campaign for Muftwang to come to the APC was informed by our commitment to the unity and development of Plateau State,” the forum added.
The forum called on President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders to intervene and ensure cohesion ahead of the national convention.
“We are urging Mr President and the leaders of the party to consider the type of persons that will be elected as national officers of the party at the forthcoming national convention.
“There should be no excuse for not getting it right at the national convention and that is why we urge Mr President to take charge of the vetting that will ensure that the right persons emerge as the national officers of our party,” the statement added.
