APC Primaries: Attacks on Yilwatda Driven by Self-Interest — Aide

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Fresh controversy surrounding the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries deepened on Friday as the Special Adviser to the party’s National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, accused some aggrieved politicians of sponsoring a “campaign of calumny” against the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, over selfish political interests rather than genuine concern for internal democracy.

Tooki said the media attacks against the APC chairman followed the conclusion of the party’s primaries across several states and were aimed at discrediting the process because some aspirants failed to secure tickets for the 2027 elections.

His remarks come amid reports of growing discontent within sections of the ruling party over the conduct of the primaries, with some party stakeholders allegedly pushing for changes in the APC leadership structure ahead of the general elections.

In a statement released on Friday, Tooki defended the conduct of the primaries and insisted that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had already established transparent mechanisms for handling grievances arising from the exercise.

“Ordinarily, in every democratic contest of this nature, there will always be winners and losers. While the winners celebrate, it is also expected that some of those who did not succeed may feel aggrieved,” he said.

According to him, what was unacceptable was the “desperate attempt by certain individuals to weaponise falsehood, blackmail and misinformation” against the APC chairman simply because the outcome of the exercise did not favour their political calculations.

Tooki noted that the party leadership had constituted appeal committees to review complaints from dissatisfied aspirants, stressing that all petitions would be treated fairly and on their merits in line with the party’s constitution.

He maintained that the guidelines governing the conduct of the primaries were clear on the procedures for collation of results and declaration of winners, adding that final ratification would only come after the completion of the appeal process.

“The procedure was deliberately designed to protect fairness, guarantee transparency and give every dissatisfied aspirant the constitutional right to seek redress,” he stated.

The APC leadership had repeatedly assured aspirants of credible and transparent primaries ahead of the elections, with Yilwatda earlier warning against violence, anti-party activities and attempts to undermine the integrity of the process.

Tooki alleged that some individuals uncomfortable with the party’s internal democratic procedures had resorted to propaganda and character assassination in a bid to pressure the leadership into reversing outcomes in their favour.

“The current media attacks against my principal are not driven by patriotism, fairness or concern for democracy. They are merely reactions from individuals unwilling to subject themselves to established procedures and internal mechanisms of the party,” he added.

He urged party members and supporters not to be misled by what he described as distorted narratives being circulated in some sections of the media, insisting that the APC leadership remained committed to justice, fairness and party unity.

The controversy comes as tensions continue to trail the APC primaries in some states, with reports of petitions, protests and complaints from aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of the exercise.