Lagos, July 29, 2025 (NAN) The Diaspora leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for reforms that will elevate the party’s Chairmen Diaspora Committee (CDC) into a permanent advisory organ within its National Working Committee (NWC).
The diaspora leaders urged the party’s national executives, led by its new National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to ensure a strategic inclusion that would institutionalise the diaspora as a central pillar of the party’s future.
This is contained in a congratulatory message issued on Tuesday to the party and Yilwatda by former chieftains of the party’s CDC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was jointly signed by the committee’s former Chairman/former Chairman of APC UK, Dr Phillip Idaewor, and the former Secretary/former Chairman of APC in Scandinavian countries, Mr Ayoola Lawal.
The group urged the new national chairman to “unlock the full strategic value of the diaspora” by embracing a global agenda of integration, innovation, and party reform.
In what it described as a six-point agenda, it raised for the party’s reform on integrating the global APC diaspora into its national operations and electoral strategy, the group stated that:
“APC should elevate the CDC as a permanent advisory organ within the NWC, with policy access and implementation oversight.
Creation of a Diaspora Strategy and Innovation Unit, focused on campaign innovation, diaspora fundraising, digital mobilisation, and cross-continental policy influence.
“Formalise the Diaspora Leadership Emeritus and bring together past leaders of the party for institutional continuity and memory, as well as mentoring and knowledge transfer.
“Guarantee inclusion in full representation of offices of the chairman and secretary of the CDC, past and present, in the APC National Convention, ensuring that all compliant and recognised chapters have a constitutional voice.”
The group also suggested embedding diaspora professionals into the Renewed Hope Agenda delivery frameworks, particularly in economic reform, digital governance, education, and health policies.
It equally sought mandate diaspora engagement in voter education, policy diplomacy, and global grassroots mobilization, ahead of the 2026–2027 election cycle.
According to the group, the inclusion is about national strategy, adding that the diaspora remains ready to serve the party and must be seen, heard, and structurally engaged.
NAN recalls that Yilwatda was elected as APC national chairman by consensus at the party’s 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 25, and was sworn in alongside other national officers.
Yilwatda, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner and technocrat, who replaced the erstwhile national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, had pledged to unify various factions, rebuild grassroots structures, and lead the party into a more professional and technology-driven era. (NAN)
