The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed concerns about President Bola Tinubu's health, insisting he is fit to contest the 2027 presidential election. Yilwatda made these comments on Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Monday, saying there was no reason to question Tinubu's fitness for another term in office. Tinubu was elected president in February 2023 and is seeking another four-year term.
Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes, defeating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 6,984,520 votes. He was sworn in on May 29, 2023. Yilwatda's comments come amid concerns about Tinubu's health and his ability to lead the party's re-election campaign. The APC chairman cautioned against interpreting isolated criticisms of Tinubu as a reflection of widespread opposition to his administration.
Yilwatda also addressed the controversy surrounding the APC's Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying Christians engaged by the party were comfortable with the arrangement. The criticism centred on concerns about religious representation and the exclusion of Christians from the two highest positions on the ticket. Yilwatda argued that Christians had not been subjected to molestation on account of Tinubu's religion during his three years in office.
The APC chairman defended Tinubu's absence from some campaign rallies, saying he had constitutional responsibilities that would not allow him to attend every political engagement. He explained that some government officials had been encouraged to participate in selected rallies to ensure that official duties were not affected by campaign activities.
Yilwatda rejected claims that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket had sidelined Christians under the current administration. He said most Christians engaged by the party were comfortable with the arrangement and that their voices were being heard. The APC chairman emphasized that the party's decision should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or an inability to lead the party's re-election campaign.
On the President's absence from some campaign rallies, Yilwatda said Tinubu's earlier decision not to attend every rally should not be viewed as a sign of weakness. He said some government officials had been encouraged to participate in selected rallies to ensure that official duties were not affected by campaign activities. This, he said, was to ensure that the government's work was not disrupted.
Yilwatda's comments come as the APC prepares for the 2027 presidential election. The party is expected to face stiff competition from opposition parties, including the PDP. The APC chairman's assurance about Tinubu's fitness to contest the election is seen as a boost to the party's campaign efforts.
Key points
- The APC chairman dismissed concerns about President Tinubu's health.
- Yilwatda defended the party's Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
- The APC chairman addressed Tinubu's absence from some campaign rallies.
