Yilwatda made the clarification on Sunday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme aired at 7pm on May 25, 2026.
By Jake Clifford May 25, 2026
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that no state chapter or electoral committee of the party has the authority to announce winners of the party’s ongoing primary elections, insisting that only the National Working Committee (NWC) can ratify and officially declare results.
Yilwatda made the clarification on Sunday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme aired at 7pm on May 25, 2026.
According to the APC chairman, all results from the primaries conducted across the country must be transmitted to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, where the NWC will carry out final verification before any winner is officially recognized.
“The states cannot announce winners until the NWC gives its verdict,” he stated during the live interview, stressing that the party’s constitution and internal guidelines place the final authority for primary election declarations on the national leadership.
The directive effectively nullifies several results already announced by state chapters and local collation committees following the recently concluded primaries
The development comes amid growing controversies trailing the APC primaries in some states, with allegations of irregularities and manipulation emerging from different camps.
In Cross River State, some aspirants had reportedly rejected the outcome of the exercise, alleging that the process was marred by irregularities and lacked transparency.
Similarly, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, who had earlier claimed victory in his contest, alleged that the process was compromised against him despite what he described as his legitimate win.
The APC leadership’s latest position is expected to trigger fresh political reactions within the party as aspirants await the final decisions of the National Working Committee
