National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the party is not scared of former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting the 2027 presidential election, adding that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State has the worst corruption cases in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nentawe, who spoke while fielding questions at a radio programme in Jos, dismissed any threat posed by the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He said that the engine of the party is well-oiled and fully prepared to win elections, adding that no name can scare the APC or be a threat or source of intimidation to the party.

He said that at best, the coalition existed in communities and not nationally, adding that this made the coalition dead on arrival and that his party is prepared to win and win emphatically.

“Do you know what as it is now seated here, APC is not scared of any name in Nigeria. APC is prepared to win elections. Our engines, our machineries are well oiled, prepared to win election and win emphatically so the issue of discussing the name of a person while discussing about the party, which, you know you need a vehicle to carry you. You can wear all the best of clothes without having a good car to carry to a reception. The car will pack up on the road. Which vehicle will carry Jonathan? Is it ADC? Is it PDP?

“All the oppositions as they are now, are just pockets of opposition in a communities and states, there’s no national opposition. In the last re-run election, none of the opposition party could win a single seat in the north, likewise in the South-South and South-East, no political party could in two geopolitical zones, that shows the limit of their strength”

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his political strength and sagacity, adding that the president has been demonstrating maturity in his political journey hence the reason the merger in 2014 could stand the test of time.

He said, “When there was a coalition in 2013, people did not give Asiwaju enough credit. He played a fatherly role, he did not contest for the presidency, but he was at the centre of the coalition. He did not show any interest; he brought all the candidates together. His house was the rallying point. He invested his money without looking back or asking for anything and midwifed the coalition to the end

“Today everyone going into the coalition is looking for the ticket, no central leader, no rallying point. Nobody is prepared to sacrifice and you think the coalition will work, it is as good as dead on arrival.”

Speaking on the PDP-led administration in Plateau State, Nentawe said that the government has nothing to show with the quantum of funds that had accrued to the state.

He accused the administration of corruption ridden, saying, “Let me just put it this way, there’s no state in the country that the government officials and the brothers and relations of the government officials are being invited by the EFCC more than Plateau State.

“I am saying it authoritatively that currently, there’s no state government in Nigeria right now that’s been invited by EFCC for corruption cases, more than Plateau State.

“Yeah, it’s a pointer. When you have, where you have, every day, you’re having government officials visiting anti-graft almost every time it’s a signal to you of the kind of governance that is in the state.” (Daily Sun)

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