The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has denied that the ruling party shields its members from legal prosecution, insisting that several party members are currently standing trial in court. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Sunday, October 11, 2026, monitored by Legit.ng, Yilwatda responded to widespread allegations that politicians facing criminal or civil charges could avoid accountability by aligning with the ruling party.
Yilwatda's Remarks on Prosecution
Yilwatda said: "Nobody is protected (in the APC party). I don't want to mention names, but I know members of our party (APC) who are undergoing prosecution, who appear in court every day." He did not identify any of the APC members he said were currently undergoing prosecution or provide further details about the cases he referenced.
The APC chairman's comments came amid a long-standing perception in Nigerian political circles that membership of the APC carries informal protection from prosecution, particularly for high-profile individuals. Critics have argued that defections to the ruling party have, in some instances, coincided with the stalling or dropping of legal cases against the individuals concerned.
APC's Position on Members' Fundamental Rights
Beyond dismissing the protection claims, Yilwatda argued that the party had no intention of using legal proceedings as grounds to strip its members of their basic rights. "As APC members, we can't use strict prosecution to go ahead and deny people their fundamental human rights," he said.
Yilwatda drew a distinction between holding party members accountable under the law and protecting their rights as citizens, arguing that both could coexist regardless of a member's legal situation. He maintained that the party's position was that no member is above the law or entitled to special legal cover by virtue of their APC membership.
Critics' Allegations Against APC
The remarks addressed allegations made by critics that the APC provides informal protection from prosecution for its members. However, the Plateau-born Yilwatda did not directly address those specific allegations but reiterated the party's stance that all members are subject to the law.
The interview also touched on broader political matters, as Legit.ng earlier reported that Yilwatda said internal party polls put President Bola Tinubu ahead of all competitors ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He named the African Democratic Congress (ADC), linked to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), associated with former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as the two main challengers. He argued that neither party had demonstrated the ability to win elections in the lead-up to 2027, which he said worked in the APC's favour.
