The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has apologised to aggrieved party members over perceived wrongs committed during the party’s internal primaries, saying the National Working Committee (NWC) accepts responsibility for the actions of committees it constituted.
Yilwatda made the apology on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the launch of the APC Campaign Office.
He appealed to members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any way during the primaries to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the responsibility for the conduct of the primaries extends beyond Oyo State, as the committees that conducted the exercises were constituted by the national leadership of the party.
“The committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and, therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party,” he said.
Yilwatda added that the party would accept responsibility for any grievances arising from the primaries in any state.
“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.
“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility for all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry,” he said.
The APC chairman urged members at the polling unit, ward and local government levels to treat the disagreements as an internal family matter and work towards reconciliation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Yilwatda also assured party stakeholders that the APC was paying particular attention to Oyo State because of its strategic importance and large voting population, which he described as second only to Lagos State.
Speaking at the event, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended Yilwatda for fulfilling promises made to party stakeholders within two days.
Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, expressed appreciation to the national chairman for honouring his invitation to meet with governorship aspirants and other stakeholders in the state.
He said the developments recorded within the period surpassed what stakeholders had previously been able to achieve.
“The promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled. We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do.
“What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.
He expressed optimism that the renewed engagement and reconciliation efforts would strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
