By Suliat Sulaiman | National News
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has deepened ahead of the 2027 general elections following the resignation of Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District, from the ruling party and his move to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mustapha, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, announced his resignation after weeks of uncertainty over his political future amid growing disagreements within the Kwara APC over its recent governorship primary.
The senator has also secured the PDP ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat in the 2027 election, setting up a major political contest in the district.
His defection came alongside that of another prominent APC member from Patigi Local Government Area, Kolo Jiya, who also resigned from the party and joined the PDP. Jiya is reportedly seeking the PDP ticket for Kwara North Senatorial District.
The latest defections followed protests by 10 APC governorship aspirants who rejected what they described as the alleged imposition of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Mustapha said his decision followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents across Kwara Central.
He explained that his disagreement was with the manner in which Governor AbdulRazaq was managing the APC in the state and not with President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, a coalition comprising members of the G15, Otoge Progressives (TOP) and elders’ caucus chose the PDP as the platform through which they could challenge the APC’s structure in Kwara while continuing to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
“I did not abandon the APC. But I have left the APC with a collective understanding. I’m representing the group in PDP so as to reset what AbdulRazaq thinks he wants to do,” Mustapha said.
He maintained that the coalition was determined to support Tinubu at the national level while defeating the APC in Kwara State.
“President Tinubu will even garner more votes this time around for himself. But at the state level, Tinubu will win at the national, while at the state, APC is a goner,” he declared.
Mustapha also dismissed reports that the Presidency had endorsed Danladi-Salihu as the APC governorship candidate in the state.
“The Villa did not endorse Danladi as the candidate for us. Nothing like that. I’m 100 per cent sure because I’m an active participant in this process,” he said.
The senator listed some members and associates of the emerging coalition as Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, Dele Belgore (SAN), Senator Lola Ashiru and Senator Sadiq Umar, among others.
He also defended his political relationship with former Senate President Bukola Saraki, saying the alliance did not amount to abandoning President Tinubu.
Mustapha described Saraki as the PDP leader in Kwara and noted that the former Senate President was not seeking any elective position in 2027.
He said the emerging “Rainbow Coalition” could produce an unusual political alignment in which PDP members would support Tinubu’s presidential bid while working to defeat the APC in Kwara.
“We want to reset the political mood in Kwara, so that not AbdulRahman or not Saliu Mustapha, anybody that comes there or that finds themselves there again, will not take everybody for granted,” he said.
In his resignation letter, Mustapha said his decision was not taken lightly, stressing that it followed weeks of consultations and engagements with stakeholders, supporters and constituents.
He said his decision was guided by the belief that politics should remain centred on “people, principles and purpose.”
The senator assured his constituents that his change of political platform would not affect his commitment to them.
He also cited several interventions he said he facilitated across Kwara Central, including tractors, agricultural tricycles, electrification projects, transformers, medical facilities, school renovations and feeder roads.
Mustapha said he had prioritised agriculture as a means of reducing poverty and supporting the economic agenda of the Tinubu administration.
He, however, rejected criticism over poverty levels in his senatorial district, arguing that his constitutional responsibilities were primarily legislation and oversight, while the executive was responsible for creating the infrastructure and economic opportunities needed to improve living standards.
The senator thanked the APC national leadership, led by President Tinubu, for the relationships and experiences he gained during his years in the party.
His departure has further exposed the depth of the crisis within the Kwara APC and raised fresh concerns over the party’s ability to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC had constituted a reconciliation committee following the controversy surrounding its governorship primary, but the initiative has so far failed to prevent prominent members from seeking alternative political platforms.
For the PDP, the entry of Mustapha and other former APC members could strengthen its position as it prepares to challenge the ruling party across Kwara State’s three senatorial districts in 2027.
