•Nentawe Yilwatda
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, yesterday, apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s internal primaries, saying the National Working Committee takes responsibility for such actions.
He stated this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during the launch of the APC campaign office, reports The PUNCH.
Yilwatda appealed to aggrieved members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC national chairman said, “The responsibility extended beyond Oyo State. The committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and, therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.
“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.
“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility.
“On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility for all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry.”
The chairman further urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.
Yilwatda assured that APC was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.
In his address, the state APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s national chairman for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.
Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, expressed appreciation to him for honouring the invitation to meet with governorship aspirants and stakeholders.
“The achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.
“The promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled. We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.
He, therefore, assured Yilwatda that the party in Oyo would continue to do the needful.
Some aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state recently kicked against the candidate of the party in the state, which, according to the aspirants, was imposed on them.
Among the aggrieved aspirants are former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, former deputy governor, Raufu Olaniyan, Akeem Agbaje, among others.
The governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Teslim Folarin, has also avoided party meetings and gatherings since the primaries.
