The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Young Stakeholders Forum has passed a vote of confidence on the party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, amid controversy over the distribution of campaign mobilisation vehicles to selected youth leaders.
The forum also warned party members against moves it said could undermine the authority of Israel’s office or create parallel centres of influence within the party’s youth structure.
The position was contained in a statement delivered at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday by the forum’s representative, Hon. Shehu Attah, who called on party stakeholders to respect established structures and internal processes.
The forum, which described its members as founding members of the APC drawn from the six geopolitical zones, said it supported Israel’s leadership and opposed what it characterised as attempts by vested interests to weaken the national youth structure.
It cited the establishment of the APC Youth House and Nest Resource Centre, digital skills training, vocational programmes, town hall meetings and youth empowerment initiatives as some of the achievements recorded under Israel’s leadership.
The group also highlighted the Renewed Hope Conversations initiative in tertiary institutions, which it said provided a platform for students, policymakers and senior government officials to discuss government policies and offer feedback.
According to the statement, more than 100 party youths and youth leaders had benefited from overseas capacity-building and training programmes over the past two years.
The forum attributed these initiatives to efforts to improve opportunities for young party members and address concerns about the reward system within the party’s youth wing.
On the controversy surrounding the distribution of mobilisation vehicles, the forum commended Israel for facilitating the provision of vehicles to selected youth leaders, including Prado sports utility vehicles and buses.
It said the gesture would boost morale and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This has sent a strong signal within the youth wing that the era of ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’ is gone with the wind,” the statement said.
The forum added that improved recognition of the contributions of youth leaders would encourage greater participation in the party’s activities.
It, however, cautioned against allowing disagreements over the initiative to deepen divisions within the APC, urging aggrieved stakeholders to seek redress through the party’s recognised channels.
“Political ambition and personal disagreements must never become excuses for disregarding party institutions,” the forum said, calling on all contending interests to respect the office of the National Youth Leader.
The group warned that it would resist what it described as factional manoeuvres aimed at weakening Israel’s office, arguing that such actions could undermine the confidence of young Nigerians who look to the party for political inclusion and opportunities.
It also urged APC youth leaders and members to close ranks and focus on preparations for the 2027 elections rather than engage in internal disputes.
The forum said any matter requiring clarification or resolution should be referred to the appropriate party authorities to prevent avoidable disagreements from escalating.
It maintained that respect for party structures, due process and internal procedures was necessary to preserve the credibility of the APC’s youth leadership.
