Anxiety is mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a new directive by its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, mandating defectors seeking elective positions in the party to present both resignation letters and formal acceptance of those resignations by their former parties.
The directive, which followed a stakeholders’ meeting in the Federal Capital Territory, has unsettled many new entrants who fear they may be disqualified from participating in the party’s forthcoming congresses due to procedural gaps.
Party insiders say the requirement has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty, particularly for aspirants who defected without securing documented acknowledgment from their former party leadership. While some had submitted resignation letters at the time of defection, many reportedly did not obtain formal acceptance, a step that has now become critical under the new rules.
Yilwatda had reassured long-standing members that the influx of defectors would not upend the party’s established structure, emphasizing that the APC remains open but will protect its foundational base. He drew a clear line between legacy members and newcomers, warning against attempts by recent entrants to dominate the system.
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Describing the party as a “home” built by its founding members, the APC chairman advocated a balanced sharing formula to ensure inclusiveness without allowing any bloc to overshadow the other.
However, the practical implications of the directive are already proving contentious. In many cases, party leadership structures at ward, local government, and state levels have since changed, making it difficult, if not impossible, for defectors to obtain backdated acceptance letters from officials who are no longer in office.
This has effectively shifted a measure of influence back to former party leaders, who now hold the leverage to validate or frustrate the ambitions of those who have since left their platforms. Analysts warn that the policy could serve as a gatekeeping mechanism that extends beyond the APC’s internal processes, potentially reshaping the dynamics of internal contests.
Despite the growing concerns in several states, the situation in Delta State appears markedly different. Political observers note that compliance with the directive may be relatively seamless for defectors in the state, following the mass defection that saw the entire structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) collapse into the APC.
With the former PDP state chairman now serving as the APC chairman, the issue of securing acceptance letters is unlikely to pose a significant hurdle for new entrants. The continuity in leadership effectively eliminates the bureaucratic bottleneck that may be experienced elsewhere, positioning Delta State as a unique case where the directive may have minimal disruptive impact.
However, if the directive is strictly followed, it may be used by the powers that be within the party to frustrate aspirants that may not be their choice.
Even so, across the broader party landscape, the development underscores a growing tension between procedural compliance and political reality, as the APC prepares for internal elections that are expected to shape its structure ahead of future electoral contests.
