2027: Yilwatda’s Experience as Ex-INEC REC Advantageous to Tinubu, Says Lalong

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, has said the choice of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be an added advantage to President Bola  Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

This, he added, is because of being a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Lalong made this known when he led other party chieftains  from Plateau State on a solidarity visit to Yilwatda at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja,

He described Yilwatda as a master strategist with the capacity to speak the language of the middle class and the youths to galvanise for the party.

Lalong dismissed the threat posed by the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), adding that the tricks in their baggage were not unusual for the APC-led administration.

“Yes, it used to be that before you become National Chairman, you must be governor or former governor. Gone are the days.

“We have seen people who are not former governors becoming national chairmen of the party. We have also seen some national chairmen of the party, former governors, coming here for one reason or another. They didn’t spend time.

“When you talk about party, you are talking about election. What is it about election that an electoral officer does not know? If he knows, it is an added advantage to this party. They were put out. But in this one, I see a new trend.

“Our new trend is the gap between the old and the new. So, if the whole exercise is about movement of younger ones, movement of women and children, then it means that you must get somebody that can speak their language. I hope you understand.

“You now have to get somebody that understands their language. If you understand their language, they also understand his language. That is what we have done.”

On her part, former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, commended Tinubu for the honour done to Plateau State over the appointment of Yilwatda as the national chairman of the party.

According to her, “It is a new Plateau, and it is going to be a new APC all over the country. What is happening is just a trick. As my leader has rightly said, we are not afraid of those leaving the party because we know more are coming.

“In Plateau, a lot of other parties, including the ruling party in the state, are coming to us. That is a good sign. And the coming of the national chairman will open more doors for greater things for Mr. President,” she added.