Kwara State Politics Archives

Political tension is escalating within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as ten governorship aspirants have formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the outcome of the party’s recent governorship primary that produced Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 elections. The aggrieved aspirants are contesting the legitimacy and process of the primary, describing it as a product of imposition and internal manipulation. They are now urging the President to intervene urgently, warning that the party risks losing Kwara State in the next general elections if the situation is not addressed. The controversy adds a new layer of internal strain to the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, which has faced recurring factional disagreements since taking power in 2019. Dispute Over Governorship Primary The disputed primary reportedly produced Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the APC governorship candidate for Kwara State ahead of the 2027 election cycle. However, the ten aspirants who participated in the exercise have rejected the outcome, insisting that the process lacked transparency and did not reflect the will of party stakeholders. In their joint petition, they alleged that key decisions within the party structure in Kwara State have increasingly been centralized, limiting internal democracy and sidelining several influential stakeholders. They further claimed that the circumstances surrounding the declaration of results raised doubts about whether all aspects of the primary were properly conducted. Appeal to Tinubu and Warning of Electoral Risk In their letter to President Tinubu, the aspirants called for urgent intervention, arguing that the internal crisis could weaken the APC’s electoral chances in Kwara State. They warned that if corrective action is not taken, disaffected members may defect to other political platforms, potentially undermining the party’s cohesion ahead of 2027. According to them, the continued exclusion of key stakeholders has already reduced morale within the party and weakened its grassroots structure. They urged the President to review the situation critically and ensure that a more broadly acceptable candidate emerges to unify the party base. Reference to 2019 “Otoge” Movement The petitioners also grounded their argument in the historical context of the 2019 “Otoge” political movement, which led to the emergence of APC control in Kwara State. That movement, they noted, was driven by a wide coalition of political actors, civil society groups, and community stakeholders who united to end decades of political dominance by the previous ruling structure in the state. However, the aspirants argued that the unity that powered that victory has since weakened due to what they described as exclusionary governance practices and limited internal party consultation. They claimed that many of the stakeholders who contributed to the 2019 victory have since been marginalized in both party and government affairs. Criticism of State Leadership A central point in the petition was criticism of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom the aspirants accused of failing to sustain the inclusive coalition that brought the APC to power in the state. They argued that declining internal cohesion within the party and growing dissatisfaction among members could weaken APC’s electoral strength if not addressed. The group also warned that perceived divisions within the party leadership could create an opening for opposition parties to regain influence in Kwara State. What Happens Next? The petition places pressure on the national leadership of the APC and President Tinubu’s political structure to respond to rising tensions in one of the party’s strategically important states. While no official response has been issued yet from the Presidency or the APC national secretariat, political observers expect behind-the-scenes consultations aimed at preventing a deeper split within the party. The situation also raises broader questions about internal democracy in party primaries and how disputes over candidate selection could shape political stability ahead of the 2027 general elections. For now, the dispute remains unresolved, but it signals a potentially wider internal battle within the Kwara APC structure if reconciliation efforts fail.