APC Primary Crisis Deepens as 10 Kwara Governorship Aspirants, Stakeholders Intensify Consultations, Push for Consensus Candidate

The crisis arising from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Kwara State appears far from over, as no fewer than 10 governorship aspirants have reportedly agreed to harmonise their political structures in pursuit of a consensus position and possible redress over the controversial primary process.

The development comes days after the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, headed by former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, declared Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

However, the outcome of the exercise has continued to generate debate and dissatisfaction within sections of the ruling party, with several aspirants and stakeholders raising concerns over alleged irregularities, lack of transparency and the overall conduct of the primary.

As part of efforts to address the growing discontent and preserve party unity, a meeting involving aggrieved aspirants and key stakeholders was held on Thursday in Abuja.

The meeting, which took place at the office of the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, brought together prominent APC leaders and governorship aspirants from across Kwara State.

Those reportedly in attendance included Senator Saliu Mustapha, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, former APC State Chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, former Senate Leader, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Dr. Oluwatoyin Tajudeen Alabi (AOT), Dele Belgore (SAN), Dr. Muhideen Salako, Hon. Ibrahim Bio, Tajudeen Audu,  Prof. Suleiman Amana and Captain Ahmad Ahmad.

Other notable stakeholders said to have participated in the consultations include the Managing Director of the National Inland Container Depot Company (NICCO), Ambassador Biodun Ajiboye, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, and other members of the APC elders’ caucus.

Sources familiar with the meeting told Choice Reporters that participants resolved to work collectively rather than individually in engaging the party’s national leadership and pursuing a common position on the issues arising from the primary election.

According to the sources, discussions focused on strengthening internal cohesion within the APC and ensuring that the process leading to the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate enjoys broad acceptance among members and stakeholders.

The aspirants and party leaders were also said to have deliberated on the possibility of harmonising interests and identifying a consensus platform capable of promoting unity ahead of the 2027 general election.

Party elders and respected leaders, including Mallam Issa-Onilu, Ambassador Ajiboye and members of the APC Elders’ Caucus, are expected to play key coordinating roles in the ongoing consultations aimed at building common ground among the various interests within the party.

Political observers believe the consultations reflect the determination of party leaders and aspirants to prevent internal divisions from weakening the APC ahead of the next election cycle.

Analysts have repeatedly warned that unresolved intra-party disputes often create opportunities for opposition parties during elections, prompting many stakeholders to advocate dialogue, reconciliation and consensus-building in the overall interest of the party.

The Kwara APC governorship primary has emerged as one of the most contentious intra-party contests in the state in recent years.

Before the primary, there were reports of intense lobbying among various political camps, with aspirants moving between Abuja and Ilorin in search of endorsements from influential party leaders and stakeholders.

The race attracted an unusually large number of aspirants, underscoring the strategic importance of succeeding Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose second term is expected to end in 2027.

Following the declaration of Danladi as the winner, several aspirants reportedly questioned aspects of the exercise, including the conduct of delegates, voting procedures and what they described as the influence of powerful interests within the party.

The dissatisfaction became more evident when many of the aspirants refrained from publicly congratulating the declared winner, a departure from the traditional post-primary reconciliation process within the party.

In addition, some party elders recently addressed a press conference, expressing concerns over what they described as perceived injustice and alleged irregularities in the primary that produced the party’s governorship candidate.

With consultations expected to continue in the coming weeks, attention is now focused on whether the APC national leadership will intervene to reconcile the opposing camps and address the grievances raised by aggrieved stakeholders in order to preserve party cohesion ahead of the 2027 governorship election.