The new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Thursday, downplayed the relevance and strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“There is no opposition for now,” he said dismissively on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme shortly after he emerged as the ruling party’s chairman on Thursday in Abuja which was  monitored by Newsblast.

“Zero fears,” he said of the opposition coalition champion on the ADC platform. The new APC chair also boasted that his party would win the next presidential election.

“Why is it that all the by-elections in the last two years were all won by the APC and in landslide victories, in most cases?” he quipped.

The former humanitarian affairs minister said the APC has no fears about the opposition parties, saying that they’ve all failed in off-season governorship polls post-2023 general elections in Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Imo states. The APC won the four governorship elections.

He said he would invest in legwork to bring more governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties to join the APC.

“My job is to unite the party, (and) to expand the party. We have 23 governors and we are still counting. My job is to bring in more. We would do legwork and bring in more,” he said.

So far in 2025, two governors dumped the PDP for the APC — Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori. At the moment, the APC controls 23 states, the PDP rules 10 states, whilst the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) control one state each.

President Bola Tinubu has charged the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus more on grassroots engagement to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Tinubu made the called at the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The president emphasised the need for increased community engagement and greater responsiveness to citizens’ concerns.

He said: “Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots.

“To you, the governors, you must wet the grass more and deliver progressive change to Nigerians. May God bless our democracy and grant us more fertile lands.

“To those working with me to achieve food sovereignty for our country, we will continue to work hard for you, Nigerians, and to listen to everyone to achieve the national goals.”

Tinubu reiterated the APC’s inclusive posture and affirmed that the party remains open to new members and fresh ideas.

He described the opposition as “a coalition of confusion” and urged progressive-minded Nigerians to join the APC and participate in its developmental agenda.

“Our doors are still open, and we should wholeheartedly embrace those who join us,” Tinubu stated.

Also speaking to the governors, Tinubu urged them to work collectively to leave behind a lasting legacy, including building a party secretariat in Abuja.

Tinubu added: “We should leave a legacy of development. The governors are here – 23 of them – to help identify a land, along with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“We should establish a committee of progressive governors to identify suitable land and construct the secretariat.”

Tinubu acknowledged economic challenges but affirmed that progress has been made under his administration.

He cited the record N14.9 trillion in revenue collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the first six months of the year, a 43 per cent increase from the amount collected in 2024.

“It is not easy to navigate the stormy waters of economic instability. Now, the economy is stabilised – there is no fear for the country except for continued upward movement and sustained growth. I can assure you,” he stated.

Regarding security, the President noted that significant efforts have been made to restore safety across Nigeria.

“Thousands of terrorists and bandits have been neutralised. You can see that fear is decreasing. However, we must remain vigilant and take the matter seriously. We must invest more in our people, be accommodating, and remain committed to ensuring national security.”

The president welcomed new entrants into the APC, including Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and other key political figures.

The meeting observed a minute silence in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

At the president’s request, the meeting also observed a minute of silence in honour of Aminu Dantata and Oba Sikiru Adetona (the Awujale of Ijebuland), who both passed away recently.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has been elected as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

His nomination was put forward by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

The motion was adopted through a voice vote by NEC members during their meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

Yilwatda’s emergence comes as the APC works to strengthen its grip on power at the federal level and consolidate its presence in states where recent defections have bolstered its ranks.