Yilwatda Charges Youths to Defend Nigeria’s Democracy, Says APC Youth-Driven

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on Nigerian youths to take a more active role in defending and strengthening the country’s democracy, describing them as the decisive force for national stability and continuity.

Yilwatda made the appeal while speaking on ongoing national reforms, urging young Nigerians—particularly those within the 25 to 55 age bracket—to take ownership of the democratic process and resist what he described as attempts by self-serving political actors to derail national progress.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the National Chairman of APC on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, he said recent political movements across the country have been driven by narrow personal ambitions and misinformation targeted at discrediting the reform agenda of the current administration.

He stressed that Nigeria’s democracy is at a critical stage, warning that its survival and consolidation depend largely on the vigilance and participation of young people.

“Nigeria’s democracy is at a defining moment. The responsibility to defend and consolidate it rests heavily on our youths, who possess the energy, innovation, and patriotic zeal required to move the nation forward. We must not allow individuals who offer no credible alternatives to past challenges to mislead the people or truncate the gains already being recorded,” he said.

The APC National Chairman further argued that the ruling party has evolved into a youth-driven political platform, noting that more than 50 percent of its membership comprises young Nigerians. He said this reflects what he described as the party’s deliberate commitment to inclusion, generational renewal, and leadership development.

He also pointed to what he called a historic milestone in the party’s leadership structure, noting that for the first time since its formation, the APC is being led at the national level by a relatively young figure in his person. He said this development underscores the party’s confidence in youth capacity and its readiness to entrust leadership responsibilities to the younger generation.

Yilwatda added that this shift positions the APC as a forward-looking political institution aligned with Nigeria’s demographic realities, and better equipped to harness innovation, energy, and resilience for national development.

Warning against what he described as attempts to destabilize the country’s democratic progress for personal ambition, he cautioned that entrusting Nigeria’s future to such interests could reverse recent gains and return the country to instability and stagnation.

While acknowledging the short-term economic challenges associated with ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yilwatda maintained that the measures are necessary for long-term stability and prosperity. He said early indicators already suggest that the reforms are repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth, fiscal discipline, and global competitiveness.

He also highlighted what he described as growing international confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, citing commendations from global institutions including the World Bank and other development partners.

According to him, recent policy reforms in foreign exchange management, fuel subsidy removal, and investment liberalization have begun to yield positive outcomes, reflected in renewed investor interest across key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing.

“Investor confidence is gradually being restored. From renewed commitments in the oil and gas sector to growing interest in Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure space, the signs are clear that the country is on a path to recovery and growth,” he stated.

Yilwatda further urged Nigerian youths to remain politically conscious and engaged, describing them as the