The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has said equal treatment awaits all in the party, assuring that defectors will not be allowed to take over leadership structures.
He said there will be a clear distinction between those who were in the party from the beginning and those who recently defected, stating that the interests of both would be protected without allowing one to have an upper hand over the other.
Prof. Yilwatda made this known in Abuja at the party’s national secretariat while briefing journalists after a meeting with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, stakeholders, led by the minister of special duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, Tuesday night.
He articulated what he described as his core political philosophy, saying inclusion was a non-negotiable organisational principle.
“This is a home we built; if the house was not built, nobody would have come in, so nobody should think he is coming as a warrior to occupy totally,” he said, pointing out that the solution, however, was in a deliberate power-sharing formula that guaranteed inclusion across both ends.
“We must have everybody included; there will be a sharing formula that will ensure all members of the legacy group and defectors are properly carried along.
“We must accommodate all tribes, including the geopolitical resources. I am chairing this party because of inclusion.
“If there is no inclusion, I can’t be here because my tribe is only found in two local governments in this country. I am a minority,” he said.
On the APC FCT party structure, Yilwatda outlined a five-dimensional sharing formula which included gender inclusion, with women in substantive executive positions and not merely as women leaders.
“Others are geopolitical representation across all six zones of the country, inclusion of the FCT’s indigenous tribes and youth engagement, among others.”
Prof. Yilwatda also confirmed that a committee led by the minister of special duties, Jisalo, is on board, which conducted zoning for the FCT APC, and that its work had been followed to the letter. He described the members as bona fide APC stalwarts.
He further stressed that “so far, no APC member has complained of being cheated or deprived in any way”, adding that “the party’s constitution would be strictly enforced in its forthcoming congresses”.
He noted that defectors seeking executive positions must produce resignation letters accepted by their former party chairmen.
“If you occupy an opposition, you must give a resignation letter and show evidence that you have genuinely resigned, and acceptance of your resignation by your former party chairman is seen,” he said.
He reiterated the constitutional rule on tenure, saying if a member had spent eight consecutive years in one office, he must step down or, at best, change office.
On women’s inclusion, he said they are great mobilisers and should not be left out after being used for elections, noting that they should also be seen on the list of experts at the end of the day.
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