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.

A former chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Umar Salah, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Salah was formally received into the APC on Saturday by the Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board, Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal, with the support of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmed Ladan Ala.

His defection followed a meeting with Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, at the Government House in Sokoto.

Speaking on his decision to leave the ADC, Salah attributed his move to what he described as the developmental strides recorded by the Aliyu administration across the state.

According to him, the governor’s projects and programmes have contributed to improving the quality of life of residents and influenced his decision to join the ruling party.

“Governor Ahmed Aliyu has done a lot for the state through the execution of various developmental projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the citizenry,” Salah said.

He added that the achievements of the administration prompted him and his supporters to declare their support for the governor and join the APC.

Receiving the former ADC chieftain into the APC, Nagwari Tambuwal assured Salah that he would be treated equally with other members of the party.

“There is no discrimination in the APC,” he said, adding that the new member would enjoy the same rights and privileges as other party members.

Nagwari Tambuwal also commended Governor Aliyu for the projects being implemented across Sokoto State and prayed for divine guidance and protection for the governor.

Salah’s defection comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties stepping up mobilisation and membership drives across Sokoto State.

The latest movement further highlights the shifting political alignments in the state as parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.

The defection also represents another reported movement from the ADC into the APC in Sokoto, coming at a time when political actors and supporters are repositioning ahead of the 2027 elections.

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.