The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the Federal Government’s N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.

Yilwatda made the disclosure on Saturday while speaking with journalists shortly after the conclusion of a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council (NEC) in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The APC chairman said the beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme were largely poor and vulnerable Nigerians who, according to him, have limited access to communication and media platforms.

He said the beneficiaries could therefore not easily participate in public debates or challenge claims about the impact of government programmes because many of them do not own mobile phones, use social media or have access to television.

“We have given N75,000 to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction,” Yilwatda said.

“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephone to make calls; they are not on social media.

They don’t have television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there.”

Yilwatda also highlighted infrastructure projects being undertaken by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying road construction was ongoing across the country.

“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site and construction is going across the country,” he said.

According to him, the Tinubu administration had also implemented programmes including student loans and humanitarian interventions, which he said were part of efforts to support Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy.

APC NEC Reviews Party Affairs
Speaking on the outcome of the three-day retreat, Yilwatda said the APC NEC reviewed the affairs of the party at different levels, from the national leadership down to states, local governments, wards and polling units.

He said the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.

“At the retreat, the party also had a deep dive into the party affairs at the national, state, local government, ward and down to polling units.

After we reviewed the performance of the party, we affirmed that the party is strong and prepared for the 2027 general election,” he said.

The APC chairman said the NEC also passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, as well as other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.

APC Condoles Niger Over Miners’ Deaths
Yilwatda said the party also expressed condolences to the government and people of Niger State following 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 loss of the 37 miners in the state.

Our prayers and hearts are with the people of Niger State over the loss,” he said.

He added that the party had resolved to strengthen reconciliation efforts within its ranks ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, state chapters that had yet to establish reconciliation committees were encouraged to do so in order to address internal disagreements and strengthen the party.

“Also, we resolved to continue reconciliation where we need to make reconciliation.

We encouraged the state chapters to constitute reconciliation committees 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 said.

APC to Drive Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign
Yilwatda further said the APC leadership would take the lead in promoting the achievements of the Tinubu administration as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

He said the party would ensure that its message on the administration’s activities was taken to Nigerians across the country.

He added that the NEC called on Nigerians to continue supporting the administration and expressed the party’s intention to secure Tinubu’s return to office for a second term in 2027.

Yobe State Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana, has commended the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) for conducting a peaceful local government election across the state.

Gubana gave the commendation on Saturday after casting his vote at Polling Unit 008, Dogon Kuka Ward, in Fune Local Government Area.

The deputy governor also expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters in his area, describing the participation as a demonstration of citizens’ acceptance of democratic governance.

“This is an indication that democracy has come to stay, and is accepted as the best form of government,” Gubana said.

He stressed the need for sustained voter education and sensitisation across the state to encourage greater participation in future elections.

According to him, the government would continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening the democratic process and ensuring that citizens are adequately informed about their civic responsibilities.

“Voter education and sensitisation across the state would be given much emphasis, going forward, so as to foster a more robust democratic process and participation,” he added.

Gubana was accompanied to the polling unit by the Special Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, retired Brigadier-General Dahiru Abdulsalam;

the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Fune Local Government Area, Yusuf Sinkin, among other officials and party members.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Ibrahim Yabani, said the commission had deployed adequate sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials to polling units across the state.

Yabani said the materials were distributed to polling units in the state’s 178 wards to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election.

He, however, disclosed that some polling units identified as flashpoints had been clustered and relocated to safer locations as part of measures to safeguard voters and electoral officials.

According to him, the adjustment was intended to enable eligible voters in affected communities to participate in the election while minimising security risks.

The local government election is being conducted across Yobe State’s 17 local government areas, with residents voting to elect representatives at the grassroots level.

The exercise is expected to provide an avenue for citizens to participate directly in choosing leaders responsible for governance and development at the local government level.

The Enugu State Local Government Election recorded low voter turnout on Saturday, with residents in parts of the state attributing the poor participation to voter apathy, inadequate awareness and concerns over previous election experiences.

The election, conducted by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) across the 17 local government areas of the state, was also characterised by the late arrival of electoral materials at some polling units.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that only a few voters were seen casting their ballots at some polling units in Trans-Ekulu and parts of New Haven in the Enugu metropolis.

At polling units in Achara Layout and Awkunanaw, electoral materials arrived late, leaving security personnel and a small number of voters waiting for the commencement of voting.

At Igbariam Primary School, some youths who had gathered at the polling unit were seen playing football while waiting for electoral materials to arrive.

The low turnout was recorded despite campaigns by political parties and appeals from ENSIEC and the Enugu State Government urging eligible voters to participate in the local government election.

Some residents who spoke during the exercise expressed doubts about the significance of their votes and the credibility of the electoral process.

A resident, Raphael Nnamani, said he deliberately stayed away from the election because he believed the outcome had already been determined.

“Everybody knows the situation; whether you vote or not, the results have been written, so why should I waste my time?” he said.

Another resident, Margaret Ozioko, said she was not aware that the local government election was taking place.

“I don’t have anything to do with election in Nigeria because after voting, the vote will not count,” she said.

A civil servant, Peter Eze, attributed the low turnout to inadequate voter awareness, previous election experiences and concerns about the relevance of local government elections to residents.

“Of what essence is the election when we know that the ruling party will win everything? For me, it is completely a waste of time and energy,” Eze said.

Another resident, Fabian Ugwu, described the exercise as an “affirmation of selected candidates.”

The concerns expressed by residents highlighted the challenges facing participation in local government elections, particularly where voters perceive the process as lacking competitiveness or where they have limited information about the exercise.

Residents who participated in the election, however, urged political leaders and electoral authorities to intensify voter education and awareness campaigns ahead of future local government elections.

They also called for measures to improve the timely distribution of electoral materials and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

The election was held across the 17 local government areas and 260 electoral wards in Enugu State.

As of Saturday afternoon, the results were yet to be fully announced, with collation continuing across the electoral wards.