A support group, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Young Stakeholders Forum, has called on members of the party's youth wing to promote unity and avoid actions that could deepen divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group made this appeal through its National Publicity Secretary, Shehu Attah, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. The forum emphasized the need for party youths to focus on mobilizing support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election rather than engaging in internal disputes.
The call comes days after the party's National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, faced public scrutiny over a video he posted and later deleted, showing seven new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado sport utility vehicles (SUVs) reportedly allocated to youth leaders for campaign activities. The development drew reactions amid questions about the resources being deployed for political mobilisation. The wife of the president, Remi Tinubu, had also disclosed the provision of utility vehicles for APC youth leaders, alongside campaign materials and footwear.
The forum declared its support for Mr. Israel and urged party youths to focus on mobilizing support for President Tinubu's re-election rather than engage in internal disputes. According to Mr. Attah, internal disagreements should be resolved through established party channels rather than factional maneuvers or attempts to establish parallel centers of authority. The group emphasized that the party's youth wing must close ranks and focus on mobilizing support for Mr. Tinubu's re-election.
The forum warned that political ambitions and personal disagreements should not be allowed to undermine recognized party structures, particularly the office of the National Youth Leader. Mr. Attah said disagreements were inevitable in a large political organization such as the APC, but argued that the party's ability to manage them through established procedures was essential to maintaining internal cohesion.
The group passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Israel, describing his office as an important link between the party's leadership and its young members. Mr. Attah said the youth leader had introduced initiatives to engage and equip young party members, including the APC Youth House, the Nest Resource Centre, and the Renewed Hope Conversations program in tertiary institutions.
According to Mr. Attah, more than 100 party youths and youth leaders had benefited from overseas training and capacity-building programs over the past two years. The forum further commended Mr. Israel for facilitating campaign mobilization vehicles for selected youth leaders, as well as the earlier distribution of buses to other party members. These initiatives have helped improve morale within the youth wing and demonstrated efforts to address demands for better recognition and rewards for party members.
The forum called on all contending interests to respect the APC's internal processes and allow its recognized structures to function without undue interference as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum. The group emphasized that attempts to weaken the youth leadership through factional disputes could discourage young Nigerians seeking inclusion and opportunities within the party.
Key points
- The APC National Young Stakeholders Forum urges party youths to respect internal processes and refrain from actions capable of deepening divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
