Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, said more governors in the country will likely decamp to the party ahead of the 2027 general election to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking during the Bayelsa State chapter’s expanded stakeholders meeting and endorsement of President Tinubu in Yenagoa, the state capital, Yilwatda stated 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.
Yilwatda, represented by the APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, stated that President Tinubu is working to take Nigeria to greater heights.
He recalled that just a few months ago, the Delta State governor, Rt. Hon, Sheriff Oborevwore, and Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, all dumped their former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the APC to support the president’s re-election.
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 called for the unity and togetherness of the party members in Bayelsa to record an overwhelming victory in the 2027 general election.
Also speaking, the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, stated that the APC in Bayelsa State is very united ahead of the general election.
Meanwhile, some key leaders of the Bayelsa State chapter of the party were conspicuously absent as the party endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
Some key leaders who shunned the meeting included the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the party’s governorship candidate during the 2019 governorship election, Chief David Lyon, and some key leaders loyal to them.
It was gathered that the internal wrangling within the party in the state, which led to the suspension of Lokpobiri and other members loyal to him, appears to be unending, as both Lokpobiri and Sylva claim leadership of the party in the state.
Meanwhile, the party passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, endorsing him as the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential polls.
The party stated that they endorsed the president’s candidature in recognition of “his outstanding leadership and vision”, demonstrated since assuming office in 2023.
Preye Oseke, an ex-federal lawmaker, seconded the motion raised by Ambassador Phillip Ikrusi to endorse the president.
Party leaders further praised President Tinubu’s bold reforms in the economy, infrastructure, energy and security sectors, stressing that “the reforms have laid a solid foundation for a prosperous Nigeria and rekindled the hope of citizens.”
According to the leaders, President Tinubu has remained “steadfast in promoting national unity, strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that dividends of democracy reached every part of the country.
They added that the president’s appointment of Bayelsans into federal offices, his focus on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and development of the oil-producing state have deepened their confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The motion reads, “We, the APC family in Bayelsa State, with one voice and resolve, endorse and support President Ahmed Tinubu as sole candidate of APC for 2027. Mobilise our members, structures and resources across all wards, local government areas in the state to ensure a resounding victory for our great party.”
Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Dennis Otiotio, said that the essence of the meeting is to appraise the performance of the president, which he described as good and therefore needs to be adopted as their sole candidate come 2027.
He said that the president has done well for the Bayelsa people by appointing various Bayelsa indigenes into various positions, among others
