The All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly assessing its performance in the recent Ondo South Senatorial District by-election, despite emerging victorious in the contest. Party insiders revealed that the outcome has sparked concerns within the ruling party as it evaluates its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
Although the APC secured the seat, a highly placed party source described the result as both encouraging and disappointing, citing the low voter turnout recorded during the exercise. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted by-elections across six states, with the APC winning five of the contests. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained the Rivers South East Senatorial seat through its candidate, Olaka Nwogu. In Ondo South, APC candidate and former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Dayo Faduyile, emerged victorious with 68,474 votes. His closest challenger, Adeolu Akinwumi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), garnered 1,411 votes. A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) disclosed that the APC views the by-elections, alongside the recently concluded Ekiti governorship election and the forthcoming Osun governorship poll scheduled for August 15, as important indicators of its political strength ahead of the 2027 elections. According to the source, the party leadership has begun a detailed review of the elections to identify areas of strength and weaknesses requiring attention. While the APC expressed satisfaction with its performance in Enugu North Senatorial District, party leaders were reportedly less impressed with the outcome in Ondo South. Concerns stemmed largely from the relatively low turnout in a district regarded as a stronghold of both the APC and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The source noted that fewer than 70,000 votes were cast in the by-election, a significant decline compared to the 2023 senatorial election, where APC candidate Jimoh Ibrahim received over 110,000 votes. Party officials were said to be particularly troubled by voting figures from the governor’s home area. In one ward with more than 11,000 registered voters, the APC reportedly secured fewer than 700 votes, while the entire local government area delivered less than 12,000 votes for the party despite having approximately 147,000 registered voters. The party source warned that such figures could raise questions about the APC’s ability to improve on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential election performance in Ondo State, where he secured one of his strongest results in the South-West. Comparisons were also drawn with the Enugu North Senatorial by-election, where the APC recorded a commanding victory with over 162,000 votes, suggesting stronger voter mobilisation in that contest despite the party's previous loss of the seat in 2023. Meanwhile, another APC leader in Ondo State blamed internal divisions within the party for the underwhelming turnout. The chieftain alleged that unresolved disagreements among party stakeholders and comments by some loyalists of Governor Aiyedatiwa had contributed to growing discontent within party ranks. He also referenced the violence that disrupted recent party congresses in Akure, noting that some affected members were still dealing with the aftermath. The party stalwart stressed the need for reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2027 elections, especially with former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo now representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Ondo South political landscape.Party leaders are expected to continue reviewing the by-election results as part of broader efforts to strengthen the APC's electoral strategy ahead of future contests.
