The Coalition of United Political Parties had described Prof Nentawe Yilwatda’s APC appointment as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
CUPP recently revealed that Yilwatda’s new role as APC chairman raises questions about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Speaking during an interview with PUNCHNG, the National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, shared that the decision to appoint him as APC national chairman directly undermines the country’s democracy.
According to him, the impartiality of INEC and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes is now questionable, and the recent development doesn’t bode well for the forthcoming elections.
He stated that APC’s commitment to upholding democratic principles is now firmly in doubt.
“The recent appointment of Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, a former REC of INEC, as the national chairman of the APC should spark widespread concern about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral system and the health of its democracy.
This development, confirmed on July 24, 2025, during the APC’s National Executive Committee meeting, raises serious questions about the impartiality of INEC, the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, and the ruling party’s commitment to upholding democratic principles,” he said.
He further noted that elevating someone with an INEC background to such a key position in APC is not just a political decision, but an intentional partnership with the commission.
CUPP concluded by saying that Prof Nentawe Yilwatda’s new role definitely creates a perception of compromised neutrality.
“The decision to elevate an individual with recent ties to INEC to such a prominent political position is not merely a political manoeuvre; it represents a deliberate erosion of the institutional safeguards that ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.
The appointment of a former REC as the APC’s national chairman, barely three years after his tenure at INEC, creates a perception of compromised neutrality and undermines public confidence in the electoral body,” he added.
