The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has maintained that politicians facing criminal allegations cannot escape legal proceedings simply by belonging to Nigeria’s ruling party.
Yilwatda made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, responding to allegations that the APC provides political protection to individuals accused of wrongdoing.
The chairman rejected suggestions that joining the ruling party could prevent law enforcement agencies from investigating or prosecuting suspected offenders.
According to him, several APC members are currently involved in criminal proceedings, demonstrating that political affiliation does not automatically exempt individuals from judicial scrutiny.
“Nobody is protected. I don’t want to mention names, but I know members of our party who are undergoing prosecution and appear in court every day,” he said.
Although he declined to identify the politicians involved or provide details of their cases, Yilwatda maintained that the party would not interfere with the judicial process to secure preferential treatment for its members.
His remarks come amid continuing public debate over political accountability and allegations that politicians facing legal difficulties may seek refuge within the ruling party.
The APC chairman, however, emphasised that the principle of accountability must operate alongside the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.
He argued that individuals accused of criminal offences should not be treated as guilty before their cases have been determined by a competent court.
Yilwatda stressed that the presumption of innocence remains a fundamental requirement of the justice system and must apply equally to politicians, irrespective of their party membership.
“As long as you have not been convicted, we assume you’re innocent because that’s what the law says,” he stated.
He further explained that the APC could not justify denying individuals their fundamental rights simply because they were facing prosecution.
The chairman’s position draws a distinction between allowing criminal investigations to proceed and imposing political or social penalties before a judicial determination of guilt.
He maintained that party membership should neither obstruct prosecution nor deprive accused persons of the legal protections available to other citizens.
While Yilwatda cited ongoing court cases involving APC members as evidence of the party’s position, he did not disclose specific examples that would allow his claims to be independently assessed.
His comments nevertheless underscored the ruling party’s stated commitment to respecting judicial processes while maintaining the constitutional principle that an accused person remains innocent until proven guilty.
Yilwatda reiterated that no individual should be considered above the law on account of political connections, insisting that allegations against party members must be resolved through the appropriate legal institutions rather than assumptions of guilt.
