Ten governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, raising concerns over what they described as a worsening crisis within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a letter addressed to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the aspirants alleged that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has lost the political and moral influence required to shape the future direction of the APC in the state.
The petition, submitted on Friday, warned that the party could face deeper divisions if urgent intervention is not made by the national leadership.
Among the signatories were Dr. Oluwatoyin Tajudeen Alabi, Capt. Ahmad Mahmud, Alhaji Tajudeen Audu, Dr. Azeez Salako, Muideen Olaniyi, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki Gambari, Senator Saliu Mustapha, Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Hon. Omar Muhammed Bio, Dele Belgore (SAN), and Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe.
The aspirants reaffirmed their commitment to President Tinubu and expressed support for his administration and potential re-election bid in 2027. They described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a viable framework for Nigeria’s development and pledged continued loyalty to the party.
They argued that the 2019 “Otoge” political movement that ended decades of opposition dominance in Kwara was the product of collective efforts rather than the achievement of a single individual.
According to them, the gains recorded since the APC assumed power have not been adequately consolidated. They accused Governor AbdulRazaq of failing to provide inclusive leadership capable of sustaining the coalition that brought the party to power.
The aspirants further alleged that several stakeholders had been sidelined from party activities and governance, weakening the APC’s grassroots support and creating opportunities for opposition parties to regain strength.
They claimed the governor’s popularity had declined significantly and warned that any candidate perceived as having his backing could face challenges at the polls.
The group also urged President Tinubu to closely examine political developments in the state, including claims of primary election outcomes that they said were announced despite no primaries being conducted.
They called for a transparent and consensus-driven process in selecting the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election, promising to support any candidate endorsed through a fair process and acceptable to both the President and the party.
The aspirants cautioned that unresolved internal disputes could negatively affect the APC’s electoral fortunes in Kwara, including the party’s performance in the 2027 presidential election.
Governor’s Camp Responds
Responding to the petition, Governor AbdulRazaq’s Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Ibraheem Abdullateef, dismissed the concerns and urged party members to embrace dialogue.
In a Facebook post, he stated that President Tinubu had already endorsed the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, for the governorship race, adding that seeking a reversal of that decision was not the best approach.
He called on aggrieved party members to set aside differences, engage in constructive discussions, and work together to secure victory for the APC in 2027.
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