The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Abdullahi Yilwatda, has declared that there is “nothing like technocrats” in governance, insisting that all those appointed into government positions are political appointees who must remain loyal to the party that brought them to power.
Yilwatda spoke on Tuesday night in Abuja at the “Renewed Hope Promise Kept 2027: Meet and Greet North-West Mobilisation” event organised by the Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bello Goronyo.
Responding to criticisms by some youths over what they described as neglect and disregard by certain appointees of President Bola Tinubu, the APC chairman said governance is inherently political and that appointees cannot distance themselves from party politics under the guise of being technocrats.
“We should always look back and refresh our minds about where we are coming from and what brought us here. It is votes,” Yilwatda said. “There is nothing called technocrats. Once you are given a political appointment, you are a politician—simple and short.”
He noted that although he is a professor with experience as a consultant to international bodies, he never emerged on the basis of being a technocrat, stressing that political appointments must be defended politically.
“As a party chairman, I will always defend the position that if you are not prepared to join us, you should not be given an appointment. If you are a technocrat, go and be a consultant, not a political appointee who will not support the party that brought you to power,” he said.
Yilwatda warned that if political appointees disengage from party activities, the ruling party risks losing future elections. “If all appointees decide to become technocrats, the party will never return to power,” he added.
The remarks come amid criticism from some APC youths, particularly over perceived disregard for party members by some ministers, including the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who was previously critical of the APC before his appointment.
The APC chairman also highlighted data from the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise, revealing that young people constitute the bulk of APC membership nationwide.
According to him, the North-West accounts for about 20 per cent of total registered APC members, with youths and persons with disabilities making up a significant proportion. He said 48 per cent of registered members in the North-West are young people between the ages of 18 and 35, the highest across the six geopolitical zones.
“At the national level, the average is 47 per cent, but the North-West has the highest number of young people registered. It means young people own this party,” Yilwatda said.
He added that Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 49 constitute about 83 per cent of APC members, while those aged 50 and above account for just 17 per cent.
Addressing the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the APC chairman said the figures underscore the responsibility of engaging and mobilising young party members.
“The party belongs to the young people. It is your party. You are the critical factor that this party will not toy with. You are the drivers of this party,” Yilwatda said.
He urged party leaders and government appointees to remain connected to the APC grassroots, stressing that electoral success depends on sustained engagement, loyalty and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
