The National Chairman of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, has stirred political waters with the approval of fifteen new senior appointments at the party's national secretariat. The move, announced on 24 December 2025, is framed as an effort to bolster the party's strategic and administrative framework but has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from major opposition parties who label it as profligate political patronage.
Details of the Appointments
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has brought on board a team of fifteen aides, comprising a mix of Special Advisers, Advisers, and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). According to a party statement, these appointments are designed to strengthen the administrative and strategic capacity of the APC. The new officials are expected to leverage their professional experience to support the national chairman in his duties, with a focus on enhancing coordination, policy formulation, and engagement with stakeholders within the party's national secretariat.
Opposition Parties Unite in Condemnation
The decision has, however, been met with sharp criticism from key opposition figures, who argue that it exemplifies the ruling party's disregard for the economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
Ralph Nwosu, the immediate past National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led the charge. He stated that the action was unsurprising, pointing to what he called the bloated appointments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. "The ruling APC is just doing whatever it wants without any recourse to what Nigerians are passing through in terms of suffering," Nwosu asserted. He questioned the source of funds for remunerating the new aides and contrasted the move with his own tenure, claiming, "When I was ADC National Chairman, I never had more than three aides."
Echoing this sentiment, Eddy Olafeso, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman for the South-West, described the APC as a "profligacy-driven political party." He accused the party of squandering resources at the organizational level while citizens bear the brunt of economic challenges. "If a national chairman is making such bogus appointments, one can only imagine what is happening at the government level," Olafeso remarked.
The Labour Party (LP) also joined the critique. Tanko Yinusa, spokesman for the party's 2023 presidential candidate, lamented the "level of decay and wastage" he claims the APC has introduced into governance. He criticized the ruling party for prioritizing political appointments over investing in critical national sectors like education and security, despite the widespread hardship experienced by the populace.
Strategic Move or Political Excess?
This development highlights a growing tension in Nigerian politics between party-building exercises and public perception during a period of significant economic strain. The APC defends the appointments as a necessary step for effective political management and national development, aiming to create a more robust party machinery. Conversely, the unified opposition backlash frames it as a symbol of insensitivity, arguing that resources should be channeled toward alleviating the citizens' plight rather than expanding party payrolls. The debate sets the stage for continued political friction as the nation navigates its socio-economic challenges.
