APC Chairman Yilwatda Urges Youths To Defend Nigeria’s Democracy
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
In a nation where more than half the population is young, the future of democracy may depend less on political elites and more on whether young Nigerians choose to engage, question, and lead.
National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on Nigerian youths to take ownership of the country’s democratic process and resist what he described as attempts by self-serving political actors to derail national progress.
Speaking amid ongoing economic and political reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Yilwatda said young people, particularly those between the ages of 25 and 55, must rise to safeguard and strengthen democracy.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman warned against political interests allegedly pushing narrow personal ambitions while misleading citizens about the government’s reform agenda.
“Nigeria’s democracy is at a defining moment.
The responsibility to defend and consolidate it rests heavily on our youths,” Yilwatda said, stressing that young Nigerians possess the energy, innovation, and patriotic spirit needed to move the nation forward.
He noted that the APC now stands as a youth-driven political movement, with over 50 per cent of its membership made up of young men and women, describing this as proof of the party’s commitment to inclusion, generational renewal, and leadership development.
Yilwatda also described his emergence as the party’s National Chairman as a historic milestone, saying it marks the first time since the APC’s formation that a youthful figure has been entrusted with its national leadership.
According to him, this reflects the party’s confidence in the capacity and vision of Nigeria’s younger generation and reinforces the belief that sustainable democracy can only thrive when youths are central actors in governance and reforms.
He acknowledged that President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including subsidy removal, foreign exchange adjustments, and investment liberalisation, have brought difficult changes, but insisted they are necessary for long-term prosperity.
He added that positive feedback from institutions such as the World Bank and growing investor interest in sectors like energy, infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing indicate that Nigeria is moving towards recovery and sustainable growth.
Yilwatda maintained that a politically conscious and engaged youth population remains the strongest defence against democratic backsliding and national stagnation.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n
