Olushola Omogbehin
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that more governors will likely defect to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election in support of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term in office.
Yilwatda revealed this on Tuesday during the Bayelsa State chapter’s expanded stakeholders meeting of the APC in Bayelsa State, where the party formally endorsed President Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for 2027.
In the meeting which took place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, Yilwatda said that because President Tinubu has performed well in governance, more governors and Senators have abandoned their parties and joined the APC to ensure that the president wins overwhelmingly in 2027.
Represented by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, Yilwatda said Tinubu’s performance in governance was attracting governors, senators and other key political figures from opposition parties.
“More governors and lawmakers are still on their way to our party because of the calibre, integrity, and achievements of the president. Our doors are wide open to accommodate those willing to join hands with us to move Nigeria forward.”
Citing the not too long defections of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Governor Umo Eno to the ruling APC, he described their move as a testimonial of President Tinubu’s growing influence.
Yilwatda said: “Our doors are still open, more governors are still moving in to our party, more personalities are still moving in, senators, members of the House of Representatives, because of the calibre, integrity and the output of the person we made president.
“Other people are running around trying to challenge the president in the 2027 election, but of course, you know, when you have a lion and other small animals are barking, the lion doesn’t even take notice of them; he goes about his duties properly, that is what the president is doing.
“It is expected that dogs will bark, it’s expected that opposition will speak and rise, but it is well assured that we have a product that even a blind man in this country will support overwhelmingly.
“I am very pleased with the South-South geopolitical zone because all the governors who previously belonged to other political parties have recognised the integrity of the president and the person we are presenting and promoting to return as the President of the Federal Republic. Because of what they have observed in Mr President, they have all abandoned their own parties and joined our great party so they can work together to move Nigeria forward. This is very commendable.
“From the South East, we use the South South as an example, because all the governors are very realistic, understanding, they have moved on abandoning their parties, just to make sure that the goal of making Nigeria a greater country is achieved.
“They are leaving their parties to come to APC to support Mr President in 2027 to record an overwhelming victory, so that as we go into 2027, governance will be easier.
“The President is not afraid, he takes the bull by the horn, what others do not have the political will to embark on, he goes about it and he achieved results, this president is on the move to take Nigeria to a greater height.”
He therefore called for the unity and togetherness of the party members in Bayelsa State so as to record an overwhelming victory in the 2027 general election.
The former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva who also spoke at the meeting said that APC in Bayelsa State is very united ahead of the general election.
