The internal crisis within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to deepen, as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s political camp reportedly visited the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday to engage the national leadership over growing tensions linked to the party’s 2027 governorship ticket.
The meeting follows controversy surrounding the emergence of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate, a development that has been strongly disputed by several stakeholders within the Kwara state chapter.
According to reports, about 10 governorship aspirants had earlier written a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, rejecting the outcome of the primary election that produced Salihu as the APC candidate. They alleged that the process was influenced and that the Speaker was imposed by the governor’s camp.
Similarly, members of the party’s elders’ caucus in Kwara State, led by Chief James Bamisaiye, also dismissed the outcome of the primary, urging the national leadership of the party to step in and address the grievances raised by aggrieved members.
In response to the escalating dispute, a delegation aligned with Governor AbdulRazaq, reportedly led by the state APC chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi alongside key party stakeholders including Abdullateef Alakawa and Razaq Lawal, travelled to Abuja to present their position to the national leadership.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the delegation was scheduled to meet with top officials of the APC, including members of the National Working Committee (NWC), to discuss ways of resolving the internal disagreement.
It was also gathered that the team was expected to hold consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as part of wider efforts to address the political tensions within the party.
While supporters of the governor maintain that the APC remains united and capable of managing its internal challenges, analysts say the unfolding events point to increasing divisions within the party’s structure in Kwara State.
BACKSTORY…
The internal politics of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been marked by rising tension in recent weeks, largely driven by disagreements over the party’s 2027 governorship succession plan. What began as quiet dissatisfaction among some party stakeholders has now developed into a more open struggle for influence and control within the state structure.
At the centre of the dispute is the emergence of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate, a development that has reportedly unsettled several aspirants and influential party members who had hoped for a more transparent or competitive selection process. Concerns over alleged favoritism and lack of internal consensus have fueled resentment within different factions of the party.
The situation has been further complicated by interventions from party elders and aggrieved aspirants, who argue that proper consultation was not adequately carried out. This has led to petitions and calls for the national leadership of the APC to step in and review the process, in order to prevent deeper divisions ahead of the general elections.
As tensions mounted, both supporters and critics of the governor’s political structure have intensified consultations with key stakeholders at the national level. These engagements are seen as efforts by both sides to secure legitimacy and backing for their respective positions, while also attempting to stabilize the party’s fragile internal balance.
Political observers say the unfolding developments reflect a broader struggle within the party in the state, where competing interests and succession ambitions are increasingly shaping alliances. While official party figures continue to project unity and control, the growing number of consultations and disagreements suggests that reconciliation efforts may still be ongoing behind the scenes.
