Osifo Urges APC Chairman Yilwatda to Reunite Party and Woo Back Defectors

Former presidential aspirant Chief Stanley Osifo has called on the newly appointed Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to focus on rebuilding unity within the party and reaching out to members who left for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking in Lagos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Osifo congratulated Yilwatda and said his leadership skills would soon be tested in the upcoming by-elections and governorship contests.

Osifo pointed to the need for urgent reconciliation, saying many former APC members had joined the ADC out of frustration. He urged the chairman to open talks with those defectors and bring them back into the party, stressing that the APC’s strength depends on the size and unity of its membership.

He said the months ahead will reveal Yilwatda’s ability to coordinate the party’s structures at all levels to ensure electoral success.

Osifo also challenged the chairman to return the party’s presence to the grassroots by reactivating local networks at ward and unit levels. He noted that success in the 2027 general elections would depend on reconnecting with ordinary voters and ensuring wide participation.

He expressed confidence in Yilwatda’s capacity to lead the party on a national scale, saying his role would shape the APC’s direction, public image, and performance in the coming years.

Osifo urged party leaders to uphold democratic values, calling for internal elections that are transparent and free from manipulation. He said the APC must ensure all members can contest fairly, without interference from political godfathers.

He ended by calling on the party hierarchy to fully support Yilwatda as he works to strengthen the party and position it for long-term success.