Oyintiloye to Yilwatda: Design winning formula for next off-cycle polls

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, has asked Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the party, to prioritise victory in the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, Oyintiloye, a former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said the three governorship contests ahead of the 2027 general election are “crucial and a must-win” for the ruling party.

He congratulated Yilwatda on his emergence as the ruling party’s chairman, describing him as “a man of impeccable character and integrity” with the experience and vigour needed to reposition the party for electoral success.

“The new national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, is coming in with a lot of experience and with fresh vigor needed to drive our party going into the 2027 general election,” Oyintiloye said.

“Off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states are around the corner before the 2027 general election. He should work closely with the state chapters to design a winning formula that will work for their various states.”

Oyintiloye urged Yilwatda to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor by building internal consensus, integrating critical stakeholders, and attracting more defectors from the opposition.

He said the APC must continue to consolidate its position by forming policies that align with the renewed hope agenda of president Bola Tinubu.

“He should continue to sustain the agenda of the party through good policy formation and proper integration of critical stakeholders at all stages of strategic plans down to execution,” he added.

Oyintiloye also asked Yilwatda to ensure that dedicated members of the party are not displaced by new defectors.

“Those defecting to APC should not be allowed to displace loyal party members who have laboured to build the party over the years,” he said.

“The leadership of the party at the state levels must have first-hand information and be fully involved in the planning and execution of strategies. The three elections must be won, and that tempo must be sustained going into the 2027 polls.”

He added that rewarding loyal party members and strengthening internal democracy would help the APC maintain stability and momentum as it heads into the next election cycle.