The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has explained that the party’s decision to operate without a Board of Trustees (BoT) is a deliberate structural choice rooted in grassroots ownership and the prevention of internal crises .
Speaking during a public presentation in Abuja and in previous media appearances, Yilwatda emphasized that the APC belongs to its members, who serve as the true trustees of the party . Unlike other political parties where a select group of elders controls structures and finances, the APC is sustained by the financial contributions of its rank and file through dues and other legitimate contributions .
“That was why APC doesn’t have a board of trustees,” Yilwatda stated. “APC is owned by the people. People are the trustees of APC. Unlike other political parties where you have some people controlling and having structures of the party in their hands” .
The Chairman also revealed that the absence of a BoT means party leaders are guided strictly by the party’s constitution and internal mechanisms rather than external supervision. “As a party chairman, there is no board of trustees supervising me. I supervise myself,” he added .
Digital Register and NIN Integration
Yilwatda also explained the rationale behind linking the APC membership register to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), noting that integration with the National Identity Number (NIN) has helped to clean and validate the party’s database while improving internal accountability .
“Our electronic registration gives us real-time access to our members. We know who they are, where they live and how to reach them. This allows us to mobilize efficiently and conduct better, more credible primaries,” the Chairman remarked .
Open to All Modes of Primaries
On the recurring debate regarding the selection of candidates, the APC Chairman clarified that the party remains open to any mode of primaries—consensus, direct, or indirect—as long as the integrity of the process is maintained .
He noted that the APC has demonstrated unique flexibility by successfully utilizing all three methods, achieving rare consensus outcomes in multiple states without the fallout of legal battles .
—
© 2026 CDA News Nigeria. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
Privacy Policy | Contact: info@cdanews.ng
—
