The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof Yelwatda Nentanwe, has been given two weeks ultimatum to resign or face mass action.
APC support group under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress, Youth Solidarity Network (APC-YSN), which gave this ultimatum on Friday in Abuja, said Nentanwe has failed the leadership test in all ramifications.
The APC group, in a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, said under Nentanwe chairmanship, APC’s popularity continue to vanish on daily basis, making the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu more difficult.
The APC group said: “Nentanwe boasts that more governors are joining the APC, which is adding to its popularity. But the truth is, if governors defection to the APC makes it more popular, why is he refusing and blocking his own Governor, Caleb from joining the party.
“Nentanwe has criticised his governor, the man who defeated him in the 2023 governorship elections as having no political value and therefore should not be allowed to join the APC. The actions of the National Chairman have exposed the danger of assembling governors without electoral value. But in truth, there is no governor in Nigeria today who does not have electoral value.
“Therefore, for the National Chairman of the ruling party to think so, he does not understand the political terrain of Nigeria and should be relieved immediately. In fact, he is still largely a political neophyte for kind of heavy political responsibilities on the shoulders of a Chairman of the ruling party.
“It is obvious that Nentanwe has no charisma, capacity and the clout to command respect even among party members. Since his assumption of office, the National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru has been the one in charge of the party’s affairs. The National Secretary spearheaded the mismanaged Ekiti State APC Governorship Primaries, which now leaves a big vacuum, calling for immediate reconciliation if the party must retain its relevance in the State.
“In recent times, the National Chairman has not been able to distinguish between a former exco and the current exco of the party. He entertains garbage and does not have the capacity to instil discipline in the party. He has become an ‘oh yes’ Chairman, lacking completely in proper direction.”
The group further said: “Since his emergence as the National Chairman, Nentanwe has neglected the staff of the party, especially the junior staff, who he has deliberately refused to acknowledge in terms of welfare and working relationship. We have it on good authority that any moment from now, the Party junior staff may stage protest demanding his removal over their welfare.
“Nigeria is surrounded by its enemies and we must not give any room for further protests , specially the ones we could avoid. The party under Nentanwe is silent in terms of mobilisation of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. Solidarity is dead in the party and the hitherto growing popularity of the party among millions of everyday party footsoldiers is now declining on a daily basis.
“We unequivocally call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene as his reelection bid is our major priority at the moment. Mr President has initiated a lot of reforms, which has placed Nigeria on the global map of successful nations. We must ensure its sustainability for the future of the younger generations and even the ones yet unborn.
“We make bold to say that if Nentanwe fails to resign within two weeks, we shall mobilise thousands of APC supporters to shut down the National Secretariat and demand his exit.”
