The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) are drawing valuable lessons from the ruling party's internal democratic processes.
APC Sets Benchmark for Political Parties
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the APC National Secretariat, Yilwatda emphasized that the APC has become a benchmark for political parties in Nigeria due to its unwavering commitment to internal democracy and transparent electoral processes.
“We are the reference point for other political parties. They observe our processes and often replicate our innovations and practices. This places a great responsibility on us to continue setting high standards for internal democracy and political conduct,” he stated.
Low Petition Rate in Primaries
The APC chairman highlighted the party's recent primary elections, noting that over 6,000 members participated across various levels, while less than three per cent of the outcomes generated petitions. According to him, this low number of complaints demonstrates that the exercises were largely peaceful, transparent, and acceptable to party stakeholders.
Focus on Peaceful Elections in Ekiti and Osun
Yilwatda reaffirmed the APC's commitment to ensuring peaceful governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, stressing that the party would focus on issues rather than sentiments during the campaigns. “On Ekiti and Osun, we are discussing issues, not sentiments. We are very conscious of the need to avoid actions that could destabilise any part of the country. Our focus is to ensure that both states remain peaceful and stable before, during and after the elections,” he said.
UK to Deploy Election Observers
Earlier, the British High Commissioner disclosed that the United Kingdom would deploy election observers to monitor the governorship elections in both states. Montgomery described the polls as significant because they would be the last off-season governorship elections before the next general election. “We will send delegations to observe the elections because these will be the final off-season governorship elections before the general elections next year. We want to see peaceful, credible and successful elections,” he said.
The envoy stressed that the UK remains committed to supporting democratic institutions in Nigeria while respecting the country's sovereignty. “Nigeria is by far the largest country in Africa and what happens here matters greatly. We have significant economic, financial and security investments in Nigeria, and therefore Nigeria’s stability and democratic success are important to us,” Montgomery added.
Strategic Importance of Nigeria
Yilwatda described Nigeria as a strategic nation whose stability is crucial to Africa and the wider international community, urging continued support from foreign partners for the country's democratic institutions. He also commended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration remains focused on building a stronger economy and expanding critical infrastructure needed for long-term growth and development.
