The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the victory of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the Ekiti State governorship election, alongside the party’s strong performance in recent bye-elections nationwide, as a clear endorsement of the APC and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Yilwatda said the election outcomes reflect Nigerians’ ability to differentiate between short-term economic difficulties linked to ongoing reforms and the long-term gains of what he called responsible governance, economic restructuring, infrastructure expansion, and institutional reforms being driven by the APC at both federal and state levels.
In a statement issued by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman, Yilwatda said the results demonstrate strong public approval of the party’s governance approach.
He stated that voters are rewarding leadership that prioritizes development, accountability, stability, and citizens’ welfare.
According to him, Governor Oyebanji’s re-election in Ekiti State shows that performance remains a decisive factor in democratic elections, describing the governor’s victory as a reflection of effective leadership, prudent resource management, inclusive governance, and visible development achievements.
Yilwatda also noted that the APC secured victories in five out of six bye-elections conducted across different states, describing the outcome as further evidence of growing public confidence in the party’s direction.
He added that the Ekiti result has reinforced the belief that good governance translates into electoral success, especially when citizens can see tangible improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, security, and social welfare.
The APC chairman further described Ekiti State under Governor Oyebanji as a model of effective governance, citing progress in road construction, rural development, healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, workers’ welfare, and ease of doing business.
He said the administration has fostered political stability while maintaining a strong focus on development, which has accelerated progress across the state.
Yilwatda concluded that the electoral outcomes should also be viewed in the broader context of President Tinubu’s reform agenda, which he said is aimed at building a more resilient and competitive Nigerian economy over time.
BACKSTORY…
The statement from the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, follows a wave of electoral victories recorded by the party in recent polls across Nigeria.
In the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election, the APC’s candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, secured re-election in a decisive win, reinforcing the party’s hold on the state. The victory came alongside a strong performance by the APC in bye-elections conducted in several parts of the country, where the party won a majority of the contested seats.
These outcomes have been widely interpreted within political circles as an early indication of voter sentiment ahead of future elections, with analysts pointing to the role of incumbency, governance performance, and party structure in shaping results.
It was against this backdrop that Yilwatda issued a statement through his aide, Abimbola Tooki, describing the results as a reflection of public approval for the APC’s governance style. He argued that voters distinguished between short-term economic challenges and what he called long-term reforms being implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the electoral outcomes demonstrate that citizens are responding positively to perceived improvements in infrastructure, social services, and governance delivery, which he attributed to APC-led governments at both federal and state levels.
He further maintained that the Ekiti result, in particular, stands as evidence that performance in office remains a key factor influencing electoral success, especially where voters can visibly assess development projects and policy outcomes.
The statement adds to ongoing political discussions about the significance of recent elections and what they may signal for party strength and voter behavior in the build-up to future national contests.
