‎2027: Non-APC Members Barred From Government Appointments – APC National Chairman Declares

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that political appointments after the 2027 general elections will be reserved strictly for party loyalists, insisting that technocrats and professionals who are not actively involved in party politics should not expect appointments.

‎Nentawe made the assertion on Tuesday night in Abuja while speaking at an event titled “Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation,” organised by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo. He stressed that governance is fundamentally political and that those entrusted with political offices must be committed party actors who actively defend and promote the APC.

‎A video clip of the APC chairman’s remarks went viral on Wednesday, sparking widespread reactions across social media and within political and civil society circles. While party loyalists welcomed the comments as a call for discipline and commitment, critics warned that the stance could undermine merit-based governance.

‎According to Nentawe, political appointments are earned through electoral support, not professional credentials alone. He argued that appointees must be visible in grassroots mobilisation and party activities, dismissing the distinction often drawn between technocrats and politicians.

‎“We should always remind ourselves of what brought us here. It is votes. There is no vote called technocrats. Once you are given a political appointment, you are a politician—simple,” he said.

‎The APC chairman insisted that he would firmly defend the principle that only individuals willing to work actively for the party should be appointed.

‎“As party chairman, I will stand strong on the position that if you are not prepared to join us, you shouldn’t be given an appointment. If you are a technocrat, go and be a consultant,” he added.

‎Nentawe further noted that government policies are essentially campaign promises that must be defended, explained, and promoted by those implementing them. He warned that appointees who distance themselves from party mobilisation risk weakening the party’s hold on power.

‎“Once you are given a political appointment, you are a politician. If all appointees decide to become technocrats, the party will never return to power,” he said.

‎He described the North-West as the “bedrock” of the APC’s electoral success in the 2023 elections and said the region would again be decisive in 2027. According to him, the zone accounts for about 20 per cent of the party’s membership nationwide, with youths forming the bulk of that base.

‎“Out of the registered members in the North-West, 48 per cent are between the ages of 18 and 35. This means young people own this party. Those aged 50 and above account for just 17 per cent,” Nentawe stated.

‎He commended Minister Bello Goronyo for organising the mobilisation programme and pledged to ensure that President Bola Tinubu is briefed on initiatives that promote party unity and grassroots engagement, describing such efforts as models for other ministers and appointees.

‎Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), Hadiza Bala-Usman, said the North-West delivered the highest number of votes for the APC in 2023 and must remain united to outperform that record in 2027.

‎“We are a vote basket and we must retain that. Nobody should work hard to win elections while others stroll in to collect appointments and hide behind being technocrats,” she said.

‎Bala-Usman warned that political appointees who fail to campaign or mobilise for the party would not be tolerated, stressing that appointments come with clear political responsibilities.

‎“Once you are a political appointee, you must come out, show your face, show your hand, and support the party,” she added.

‎Implications for Key Appointees

‎Political analysts say the policy, if enforced, could affect several senior government officials widely regarded as technocrats with limited partisan affiliation. Names often mentioned include the Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijjani; the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Wada Maida; and other professionals appointed primarily for their technical expertise rather than party loyalty.

‎Observers also point to figures such as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—who is not an APC member—as examples of potential tension if the party insists on strict exclusivity in appointments.

‎Critics argue that sidelining technocrats could disrupt continuity in key ministries and agencies, noting that many non-partisan appointees have played significant roles in implementing government programmes and advancing national development goals.

‎Historical Context: Technocrats in Nigerian Governance

‎Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigerian administrations have consistently appointed technocrats to strategic positions. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, and President Bola Tinubu have all relied on non-partisan professionals to drive reforms and policy execution.

‎Notable examples include Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance and current Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Akinwunmi Adesina, former Minister of Agriculture and AfDB President; Obi Ezekwesili, former World Bank executive and minister; and Nasir el-Rufai, who served as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as FCT Minister before becoming a full-fledged partisan politician.

‎Analysts warn that abandoning this tradition could weaken institutional memory, sideline expertise, and elevate political loyalty above national interest.

‎PDP Reacts: We Will Work With Everyone

‎The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it would take a different approach if elected in 2027, pledging to combine competence with political experience in appointments.

‎The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said a PDP government would prioritise capacity and performance over partisan affiliation.

‎“When our party wins, we will run a system with a fair mix of politicians and technocrats. The key determinant will be what the appointee has to offer,” he said.

‎While cautioning against isolating Nentawe’s remarks, Ememobong warned that excluding technocrats entirely would amount to over-politicising governance.

‎“Governance is too important to be left to politicians alone. Everyone has a role to play,” he added.

‎Analysts Warn of Governance Risks

‎Political analysts have expressed serious concerns over the APC chairman’s position, warning that loyalty-based appointments could undermine effective governance and public trust.

‎Abubakar Ibrahim, a political scientist at the Federal University of Lafia, said while loyalty may strengthen party cohesion, it risks sidelining merit and deepening factionalism.

‎“Such appointments may consolidate party unity, but they also risk marginalising competent individuals and reducing public confidence in government,” he said.

‎Another analyst, Usman Aliyu Hayatu, described the policy as “dangerously alarming,” warning that prioritising party loyalty could weaken accountability and due process.

‎“When political loyalty supersedes national interest, public institutions risk becoming tools of partisan control rather than platforms for development,” he said.

‎Similarly, Dr Aminu Hayatu of Bayero University, Kano, said the statement reflects internal power calculations ahead of 2027.

‎“By dismissing technocrats, the chairman is asserting that all appointees must first be party soldiers,” he said, warning that turning government institutions into permanent campaign structures could erode service delivery, institutional capacity, and public trust.

‎“When loyalty becomes the main criterion, competence declines, patronage thrives, and citizens grow cynical about governance,” he concluded.