By Sarah Mattew
ABUJA — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed firm confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it is not under pressure and remains firmly in control of key swing states, particularly in the Northwest.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the APC has strengthened its political base across critical states and is well positioned for victory at the polls.
Providing a state-by-state assessment, Yilwatda described Kano as already secured for the APC, noting its strategic importance as a swing state in the region.
“I can assure you that Kano is a given to us as APC,” he said.
He identified three dominant political blocs in Kano those aligned with Abdullahi Ganduje, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Ibrahim Shekarau and maintained that the ruling party has weakened opposition forces while consolidating its own structure.
Dismissing concerns over the influence of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Yilwatda argued that the votes credited to him in the 2023 elections were largely from aggrieved APC members who had temporarily defected but have now returned.
“It wasn’t Kwankwaso alone who delivered those votes. It was mostly aggrieved APC members who moved to him and strengthened him. The two senators are back in APC. In the House of Representatives, all but one have returned. In the State Assembly, only one member is outside APC. All local government chairmen and councillors have defected back. That leaves Kwankwaso weakened, while we are stronger,” he said.
The APC chairman also disclosed that he had personally engaged leaders of the Shekarau and Gwarzo blocs during a recent visit to Kano, where he spent two days holding consultations.
“I sat down with them, engaged them, and met with the entire PDP exco structures of both blocs. They were all with me,” he added.
On Kaduna State, another key battleground, Yilwatda said the party has resolved internal grievances that previously affected its performance, especially in Southern Kaduna.
“The entire Southern Kaduna, which used to go against us, has returned to APC. Their grievance was with former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is now in ADC. The structure there is now fully with us,” he stated.
He also downplayed the impact of El-Rufai’s defection on the party’s strength in Zaria, the former governor’s stronghold, insisting that only a few members followed him out of the APC.
“We conducted an election in Zaria where he campaigned vigorously, but very few people left with him. Zaria is intact, Kaduna is intact, and we are expecting even more votes there,” he said.
Turning to Sokoto State, Yilwatda expressed optimism about the APC’s chances, noting that the party currently controls three of the four major political structures in the state.
“The governor’s structure is intact, and we control three out of four structures. Sokoto will deliver for us,” he said.
Overall, the APC chairman portrayed a party that has grown stronger since the 2023 elections, bolstered by returning members and new defections from opposition parties, as it prepares for what is expected to be a highly competitive 2027 contest.
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