Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that many Christians who voted for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election have now redirected their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Yilwatda made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, where he discussed what he described as major political shifts across different parts of Nigeria since the last general election.
According to him, the ruling APC has experienced significant growth in political strength and influence nationwide, especially in regions where opposition parties previously dominated. He argued that the increase in elected officials associated with the APC demonstrates that more Nigerians are embracing the party and the leadership of President Tinubu.
The APC chairman explained that the party currently has a stronger presence at different levels of government than it did during the 2023 elections. He noted that the number of governors, senators, House of Representatives members, and state lawmakers connected to the APC has risen considerably over the past two years.
He stressed that the party’s expansion in the National Assembly is particularly noticeable, noting that the APC moved from having just above 50 senators after the election to controlling more than 90 seats in the Senate today. He added that similar gains have also been recorded in state assemblies and other political structures across the country.
Yilwatda specifically referred to states in Northern Nigeria with large Christian populations, including Plateau and Nasarawa, where Peter Obi enjoyed substantial support during the presidential contest. He suggested that religious concerns heavily shaped voting decisions in those areas during the election period.
According to him, many Christian voters backed Obi because of sentiments linked to faith and identity at the time. However, he maintained that such emotions have gradually disappeared, claiming that many residents and political figures from those communities are now identifying with President Tinubu and the APC administration.
He further stated that governors, lawmakers, and other political stakeholders from those northern states are increasingly working in support of the president, which he said reflects changing public opinion and growing confidence in the current administration.
The APC chairman also commented on political developments in the South-South geopolitical zone, traditionally viewed as a strong base of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He claimed that the region, which strongly supported both the PDP and Peter Obi during the 2023 election, has now experienced a major political transition.
Yilwatda argued that the APC has succeeded in gaining influence across the South-South through political alliances, defections, and increased support from influential leaders within the region. According to him, many political actors who were previously aligned with opposition parties are now backing President Tinubu’s government.
He insisted that support for the president is no longer limited to the APC’s traditional strongholds, adding that the ruling party is steadily building a broader national coalition ahead of future political contests.
The comments by the APC national chairman come at a time when political activities and alignments are already intensifying across Nigeria as parties prepare for upcoming elections and seek to strengthen their positions nationwide.
