Kwara APC Guber Primary: Danladi Emerges Winner as Gov’s Choice
House of Assembly Speaker, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Kwara State after securing a lead across all blocs of the state, following the support of the governor and as preferred candidate of the state leadership.
The controversial primary election, which held across the three senatorial districts, saw Danladi polling 94,990 votes, representing more than 65 percent of total valid votes cast.
He defeated his closest rival, Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who scored 41,700 votes, while Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa polled 22,118 votes.
The result was formally announced on Friday evening by the Chairman of the Kwara APC Governorship Primary Committee, Musiliu Obanikoro, who described the exercise as largely peaceful and reflective of party consensus across the state.
According to field reports from the wards and local government areas, Danladi recorded dominant victories in Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Offa, Oyun, Ifelodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero, Baruten, Kaiama, Edu and Patigi, among others, with several areas returning overwhelming margins in his favour.
In the northern axis of the state, all five local government areas reportedly delivered over 90 percent of their votes for the Speaker, while he also maintained strong leads in both central and southern senatorial districts, reinforcing what party insiders described as a “statewide consolidation of support.”
Despite being a major contender, Seriki was said to have joined other party stakeholders in early mobilisation efforts that ultimately strengthened support for Danladi, in line with the governor’s endorsement of the Speaker as the preferred candidate of the ruling party.
Supporters were seen across Ilorin communities including Alanamu, Ajikobi, Ojuekun, Adewole, Ibagun and Gambari displaying posters and chanting solidarity slogans during the voting exercise, as party members turned out in large numbers.
Announcing the results, Obanikoro said the process reflected the will of party members, noting that “the exercise has produced a clear winner in line with the votes cast by delegates across the state.”
Other aspirants in the race recorded the following results: Engr. Femi Sani, 5,519; Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, 3,920; Dele Belgore, 3,411; Mohamed Bio, 1,122; Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, 1,099; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2,434; and Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, 1,722.
