Kwara APC crisis worsens as elders reject gov candidate

Elders of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State have rejected Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the governorship candidate of the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

They warned that retaining him as the party’s flagbearer could cost the APC electoral victory in the state.

However, in a swift reaction, the state chapter of the APC dismissed the elders’ position, describing it as false, misleading, and lacking official standing within the party structure.

Also, another group of elders of the ruling party declared support for the emergence of the governorship candidate, saying it was in order.

recalls that Danladi-Salihu was declared the winner of the APC governorship primary election on Friday, May 22, 2026, after polling 94,990 votes.

The official results were announced in Ilorin by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Musiliu Obanikoro, securing Danladi-Salihu’s ticket as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

On Monday, however, the elders, under the aegis of the Kwara State APC Elders Caucus, urged President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, and members of the National Working Committee to urgently revisit the outcome of the governorship primary and broaden consultations with stakeholders across the state.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus at a press conference in Ilorin on Monday, the chairman, James Ayenioye, said the intervention followed extensive consultations across Kwara’s three senatorial districts and a review of the political implications of Danladi’s candidacy.

He said, “We decided to intervene because the APC in Kwara State is standing at a critical crossroads, and silence at this point would amount to negligence.

“Many of us supported different aspirants during the governorship contest, but after the process, we deliberately set aside those preferences to evaluate the outcome strictly on the basis of what is best for the APC and Kwara State,” he said.

The elders faulted the circumstances surrounding Danladi’s emergence, insisting that what was presented as a governorship primary did not reflect a credible electoral process.

“Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who had earlier secured the ticket to return to the House of Assembly, was surprisingly announced as the winner of a governorship primary election that, in reality, never took place,” the caucus declared.

They also expressed concern over Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s endorsement of Danladi and his subsequent presentation of the Speaker to the national leadership of the party.

“We are amazed, very disturbed and concerned that the Governor of Kwara State, who is the leader of the APC in the state, upheld the purported victory and went ahead to present him to the national leadership as the governorship candidate of the party.

What is even more concerning is that critical stakeholders, including aspirants, party elders, and important political office holders, were not sufficiently consulted or carried along in decisions that will determine the future of the APC in Kwara State,” the group added.

After reviewing the political situation, the elders said they were convinced that Danladi’s candidacy did not represent the strongest option available to the APC.

“We do not believe that the purported emergence of Hon Engr Salihu Yakubu Danladi represents the strongest political option available to the party at this critical moment.

“Let us state clearly that we have no personal grievance against Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi. We do not begrudge his political aspirations, nor do we question his right to seek higher office. Our concern is entirely patriotic, political, and strategic,” they stated.

They argued that the Speaker lacked the statewide appeal required to secure victory in a highly competitive governorship election.

“In our considered opinion, he is neither the most popular nor the most broadly acceptable option available to the APC today. He does not possess the level of statewide appeal required to unite the party, inspire confidence among undecided voters, and effectively confront a strengthening opposition.

“More importantly, we are not persuaded that he is the strongest candidate available to provide the kind of leadership required to address the developmental, economic, and security challenges confronting Kwara State at this period,” they said.

The elders warned that political dynamics in the state had shifted significantly and that the APC could no longer assume automatic victory.

“We are particularly worried because the opposition has grown significantly stronger in recent times as a result of his announcement as the party’s candidate.

“Political realities have changed; public expectations have changed; and voters’ behaviour has changed. The assumption that the APC can present any candidate and still coast to victory is no longer supported by facts on the ground,” they said.

The caucus accused the state leadership of failing to provide a realistic assessment of the political environment to the national leadership and the President.

“Respectfully, it is our considered opinion that the governor of Kwara State, as leader of the party, ought to have provided a more realistic assessment of the political situation in the state to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC.

“We believe that at a moment such as this, the collective interest of the party must take precedence over individual calculations.

“The future of the APC is too important to be subordinated to the ambitions or personal ego of any individual,” the caucus added.

The elders further dismissed claims of overwhelming popularity being circulated in support of the candidate.

“We are constrained to observe that much of what has been presented regarding the popularity and acceptability of the current candidate does not reflect the realities on the ground.

“The truth is that what is being staged in the media is an attempt to create a false impression of acceptance where none exists,” they stated.

The caucus urged the APC national leadership and Tinubu to intervene urgently to prevent an electoral setback in the state.

“We urge them to take a second look at the situation in Kwara State, engage more broadly with stakeholders, and prioritise the long-term stability and sustainability of the APC above all other considerations,” the caucus said.

They also alleged that some influential figures within the Presidency were backing the arrangement for personal advantage.

“We are aware that certain influential aides in the Presidency are actively working to foist this unpopular option on the APC in Kwara State in exchange for patronage and other pecuniary benefits.

“We, therefore, respectfully urge them to place the survival of the party above personal interests, private commitments, and political promises.

“The future of the APC in Kwara State is too important to be sacrificed for the ambitions of a few individuals,” they said.

The caucus maintained that their intervention should be seen as a warning and not a rebellion against party authority.

“Our intervention should not be seen as an act of rebellion, but as an act of patriotism and responsibility,” they said.

“We speak because we care; we speak because we believe the APC can still avoid a costly mistake; and we speak because history teaches that political parties are strongest when they listen to honest counsel from within,” they added.

The APC elders’ caucus reaffirmed its loyalty to the President and pledged continued support for his administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the position in a statement issued hours later by the state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji A.O. Babatunde, the party insisted that the governorship primaries that produced Danladi were validly conducted and supervised in line with party guidelines.

The APC Kwara governorship primary election was conducted in line with the guidelines issued by the National Working Committee of our great party.

“The process was transparent, supervised by representatives of the national secretariat and relevant security agencies. Rt Hon Engr Salihu Yakubu Danladi emerged as the duly elected candidate,” the party stated.

It also rejected claims that the primary never held, describing such assertions as deliberate falsehoods.

“Any suggestion that the primary ‘never took place’ is a deliberate falsehood and should be disregarded,” it stated.

On the role of AbdulRazaq, the APC defended his actions, insisting he remained the leader of the party in the state and acted within approved consultations.

“The Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, remains the leader of the party in the state.

“His actions throughout the primary process were guided by the need to preserve unity and ensure the APC presents its strongest candidate,” the party said.

It also rejected allegations of exclusion of stakeholders, insisting consultations were carried out across all senatorial districts.

“Consultations were held across the three senatorial districts prior to and after the primary,” it said.

Defending Danladi’s candidacy, the APC described him as a strong and widely accepted figure within the party structure and across the state.

“Rt Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi is a tested administrator, a ranking lawmaker, and a son of Kwara with deep roots across the state.

“He enjoys the support of the party structure, critical stakeholders, and the generality of APC members,” he said.

The party further dismissed allegations of manipulation and external interference, describing them as reckless and capable of creating disaffection within the party.

“The wild allegation that influential aides in the Presidency are working to foist an unpopular option is reckless, unsubstantiated, and capable of causing disaffection,” it warned.

The APC also disowned the group behind the earlier press conference, insisting that the so-called elders caucus has no official recognition within the party.

“For the sake of clarity, the purported ‘Kwara APC Elders Caucus’ does not enjoy any official recognition, as no such group has been inaugurated by the party.

“Our elders caucuses exist at the senatorial levels, and only the Kwara Central Elders Caucus has been inaugurated,” it added.

The party urged members to remain united and avoid actions capable of undermining its chances in the 2027 elections.

“The party’s door remains open for genuine engagement through established structures, not through press conferences that undermine cohesion,” it said.

Meanwhile, another group of elders of the ruling party declared support for the emergence of the governorship candidate.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Monday, the APC elders, through their spokesperson, Abdullateef Alakawa, assured Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC that Danladi-Salihu enjoyed popular support across the state, particularly among young people.

At a press conference addressed by the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Agenda Ambassadors, Alakawa described the opposing group as illegitimate.

“To say the least, those who addressed that conference are interlopers who are not recognised by the APC structure in the state.

“The general public is aware that our party held its primaries for all elective offices, including the governorship ticket, in a peaceful atmosphere.

“The result of the governorship primary was announced by the chairman of the panel sent from Abuja to conduct the exercise, Musiliu Obanikoro, in the presence of party members at the Banquet Hall, Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin.

“The governorship primary held on 22nd May 2026 produced the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the winner.

“Since then, none of the other aspirants has raised any complaint about the outcome of the exercise. As a team player, the APC governorship candidate has extended the hand of fellowship to his co-contestants.

“Furthermore, Danladi has embarked on consultations with key stakeholders in the state, including traditional rulers, who have all expressed support and offered prayers for his victory in 2027.

“The credentials of Danladi-Salihu are well known. Apart from being an engineer, he has accumulated political experience as the state’s number three citizen over the past seven years. He is also a young candidate with strong support among youths,” he said.

The group insisted that AbdulRazaq did not impose any candidate, adding that he allowed a free contest and was not directly involved in the conduct of the primary.

“Declaring the result, the Chairman of the APC Supervisory Committee on Kwara Governorship Primary, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said Danladi-Salihu scored 94,990 votes to defeat eight other aspirants.

“We recall that key contenders, including Amb Yahaya Seriki, had earlier mobilised support for Danladi-Salihu in a show of solidarity.

“All five local government areas in the North returned more than 90 per cent of their votes in favour of Danladi-Salihu, while he also led across the two other senatorial districts.

“In the Southern District, Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero and Ifelodun stood firmly behind the Speaker.

“The above illustration shows that Danladi-Salihu won the governorship primary convincingly. What we expect of the so-called elders is to join hands with the governor and other stakeholders to ensure victory for the APC at the polls.”

The elders assured the President that Kwara remained an APC state and, God willing, the governor and other stakeholders would deliver the state to the party in 2027.

Alakawa was flanked by the coordinator of the Kwara Central APC Elders Caucus, Alhaji Razaq Lawal, and a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, among others