By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has attributed the party’s poor performance in the 2023 general elections in Plateau State to the actions and decisions of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The Forum made the claim in response to comments by Yilwatda during an interview on Arise TV, in which he dismissed the group as an unrecognized entity and questioned its relevance within the party.

The Forum had previously criticized Yilwatda, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Plateau, for his handling of humanitarian crises in the state, particularly the displacement of residents due to violent attacks. They accused the minister, a Plateau native, of being absent from the affected communities.

Yilwatda, in his TV interview, dismissed the Forum’s concerns and alleged that its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, lacked commitment to the party. He also claimed the Forum had previously targeted other APC leaders, including National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume.

In a counter-statement on Sunday, the Forum insisted its earlier remarks were advisory, not hostile, and said Yilwatda’s refusal to heed counsel was partly responsible for APC’s loss in the state.

“APC lost Plateau in both the presidential and governorship elections in 2023 because Prof. Yilwatda failed to listen to advice. He even instructed his aides to vote Labour Party in the presidential poll to ride on Peter Obi’s popularity, which diverted attention and cost the party crucial support,” the Forum claimed.

The group also argued that Yilwatda’s emergence as APC’s governorship candidate did not reflect the majority’s will, saying he was the choice of a few influential party leaders and lacked broad support.

Responding to the minister’s suggestion that the Forum lacked legitimacy, Zazzaga affirmed the group’s recognition as a registered APC support body since 2018, with members drawn from across sectors and former public officeholders.

Addressing Yilwatda’s accusation that the Forum targeted party leaders, Zazzaga clarified, “We did not attack Dr. Ganduje. We only agitated for the National Chairman’s seat to remain in the North-Central, as it was zoned. Once Ganduje proved capable, we stopped the agitation.”

The Forum also reiterated its earlier advice to the SGF to foster inclusiveness, which they said Akume accepted.

Zazzaga further challenged Yilwatda’s claim of not knowing his APC status. “He appointed me to three committees during his governorship campaign and I also served on the APC Presidential Campaign Council,” he said, noting his involvement in several national APC assignments.

Additionally, the Forum withdrew a recent ultimatum it had issued to the Plateau APC Executive Committee over reconciliation issues, attributing the move to a “miscommunication.” However, it reaffirmed its intent to lobby for Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP to join the APC, citing his political experience and popularity in Plateau.