APC dismisses claim of new leadership, says Yilwatda remains national chairman 

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as “comical” a claim by a party member declaring herself the authentic chairperson of the party and threatening to challenge the current leadership in court.

Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s national director of publicity, described the development as strange and lacking any constitutional basis within the party.

In a telephone interview with BusinessDay on Wednesday, Ibrahim said the claim reads like a “comedy script” and does not follow any recognised process for the emergence of party leadership.

“This reads like a comedy script to me. It is strange. I saw it on social media, but there is nothing you will not see on social media these days. Certainly, that is not the process for the emergence of a new leader in a political party.”

The reaction followed a statement issued on Wednesday by Hafsatu Danladi, who claimed to be a member of the APC.

In the statement shared on her X account, Danladi declared herself the “true and authentic chairperson” of the party and announced plans to approach the Federal High Court in Abuja.

She said the lawsuit would challenge what she described as the “illegitimate structure” currently managing the affairs of the party.

“I, Alhaja Hafsatu Danladi, hereby assert my position as the true and authentic Chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the statement read.

“In light of recent developments within the party, I will be approaching the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the legitimacy of the current leadership. This action seeks to unseat what I consider an illegitimate structure presently overseeing the affairs of our great party,” she said.

Danladi further stated that she would ask the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop recognising the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Nentawe Yilwatda.

According to her, the legal action is necessary to protect the integrity of the party and ensure due process in its leadership.

However, Ibrahim dismissed the claim outright, noting that the APC had only recently held a successful national convention.

“The party has just had its national convention. It was successful, free, seamless and smooth. Then suddenly this kind of thing is coming up. I think it’s something for comedy,” he added.