RismadarVoice Reporters
October 12, 2026
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has claimed that internal opinion polls conducted by the ruling party indicate that President Bola Tinubu is positioned to win the 2027 presidential election.
Yilwatda asserted on Sunday Politics, where he disclosed that the APC had conducted surveys across several states to assess its electoral strength ahead of the general elections.
According to him, the findings suggest that the ruling party maintains an advantage over opposition parties and potential presidential challengers.
He said the APC had undertaken fact-finding exercises and gathered electoral statistics to guide its preparations for the forthcoming contest.
When asked whether the party’s internal polling suggested that Tinubu would secure another term, Yilwatda answered in the affirmative.
The APC chairman maintained that the party was not concerned about the political activities of opposition groups, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), associated with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), associated with Peter Obi.
He argued that the electoral records of opposition figures and the ruling party’s organisational strength would influence the outcome of the next presidential election.
Yilwatda also defended Tinubu’s administration, citing economic and institutional reforms as evidence of what he described as progress under the current government.
On taxation, he said the administration’s reforms had broadened the country’s tax base, improved government revenue and introduced measures intended to benefit low-income Nigerians.
He further highlighted changes in the electricity sector, particularly provisions allowing state governments to participate more directly in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
Addressing concerns over rising petrol prices and the cost of living, Yilwatda acknowledged the difficulties facing Nigerians but described the economic pressures as temporary.
He expressed confidence that the administration’s policies would eventually produce improvements, while maintaining that Nigerians continued to support the ruling party.
Responding to allegations that APC membership protects individuals from prosecution, Yilwatda rejected the suggestion, saying some party members were facing legal proceedings.
He insisted that membership of the ruling party did not place anyone above the law.
On preparations for the presidential campaign, the APC chairman disclosed that the party was reviewing the composition of its campaign council ahead of its planned inauguration.
He also welcomed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid from political figures and groups outside the APC, including the Rainbow Coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Yilwatda dismissed the opposition-backed Tinubu Must Go campaign, arguing that its message did not represent the views of the wider Nigerian electorate.
However, the opinion polls cited by the APC chairman remain internal party assessments. Detailed information about their methodology, sample sizes, fieldwork dates and state-by-state findings was not provided.
Consequently, the claims represent the APC leadership’s assessment of its electoral prospects rather than independently verified projections of the 2027 presidential election outcome.
