The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said unity and reconciliation among party members will be critical to the party’s bid to reclaim Oyo State in the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan during a reconciliation visit to the state, where he met with party leaders, stakeholders and members of the Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee.
The APC national chairman described the party as a family and said internal disagreements should not be allowed to undermine its chances in the 2027 elections.
“We are a family. It is normal for children of the same family to have some little difficulties. But we are happy that the party is still stable,” Yilwatda said.
He said the fresh reconciliation process was designed to address grievances, rebuild trust among members and strengthen the party’s structure ahead of the general elections.
Yilwatda stressed that the APC must resolve its internal differences and work together if it hopes to regain control of Oyo State.
The national chairman also spoke on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, saying the APC had yet to take an official position on its outcome.
According to him, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would invite the party’s candidate and other stakeholders to review the election before an official position is reached.
“We have not sat down as a party to take a position. A position as a party will involve the National Working Committee inviting candidates and taking a review of what happened in Osun State,” he said.
Yilwatda described the Osun election as a learning experience for the APC and stressed the importance of political maturity and sportsmanship.
Also speaking, Co-Chairman of the Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said the committee was working to resolve grievances arising from the party’s recent primaries.
Lanlehin acknowledged dissatisfaction among some members over the outcome of the primaries but urged party members to put their differences aside in pursuit of a common objective.
“Nothing beats unity. Nothing beats working together. Nothing beats the strength of the party as put forward by all the members of the party,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the APC could reclaim Oyo State in 2027 and called on party leaders, aspirants and members to support the reconciliation process.
“We have been out of government for eight years. I assure you that members of this party don’t want to be out of government any extra day,” Lanlehin said.
The reconciliation initiative comes as the APC seeks to consolidate its structure in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party’s leadership placing renewed emphasis on resolving internal grievances and building a united campaign structure.
