The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has disclosed that over 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the Federal Government’s N75,000 conditional cash transfer scheme have no access to mobile phones and are absent from social media platforms.
Yilwatda made the disclosure on Saturday while responding to questions from journalists at the end of a three-day retreat of the APC’s National Executive Council held in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
He said, “We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephone to make call, they are not on social media. They don’t have television. They can not come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there”.
The APC chairman tied the disclosure to a broader defence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, listing road construction, student loans and various humanitarian interventions as achievements funded partly from savings made from the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site and construction is going across the country” he said.
Turning to the outcome of the NEC retreat, Yilwatda said the party had reviewed its structures nationwide and reaffirmed its readiness for the 2027 general election.
“At the retreat, the party also, have a deep dive into the party affairs at the national, state, local government, ward and down to polin units. After we review the performance of the party, we affirm that the party is strong and prepared for the 2027 general election” he added.
He disclosed that the NEC passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate, his running mate, Kashim Shettima, and all other APC candidates who emerged from the 2027 primary elections.
The council also directed state chapters yet to set up reconciliation committees to do so, as part of efforts to unite the party ahead of the polls.
“Also, we resolved to continue reconcilation were we need to make reconciliation. We encouraged the state chapters to constitute reconciliation committee where they have not done it to ensure that we consolidate the party towards winning and to sustain the gains that we had in the previous elections” he noted.
Yilwatda added that the NEC resolved to lead the party’s campaign from the front, with members mandated to publicise Tinubu’s achievements across the country ahead of 2027.
Before addressing party matters, the APC chairman extended condolences to Niger State over the deaths of 37 miners in the state.
“First, we extend our deepest condolences to the people of Niger state, the government and the good people of the state over the lost of the 37 miners in the state. Our prayers and heart are with the people of Niger state over the lost” he said.
The NEC also commended Nigerians for their support so far, while appealing for continued backing to secure Tinubu a second term in the 2027 general election.
