Ten governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they described as a worsening leadership crisis within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a joint petition addressed to the President, the aspirants expressed concern that internal divisions, exclusion of key stakeholders, and disagreements over the governorship selection process could weaken the party's chances in future elections.
The group reaffirmed its loyalty to President Tinubu and pledged support for his re-election bid in 2027. However, the aspirants warned that the APC in Kwara State was facing serious internal challenges that required urgent attention from the party's national leadership.
According to the petition, the political coalition that brought the APC to power in Kwara State through the popular "Otoge" movement in 2019 has gradually fractured due to a lack of inclusiveness and growing dissatisfaction among party members.
The aspirants accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to maintain the broad coalition that helped secure the party's victory, alleging that many stakeholders who contributed to the APC's rise in the state have been sidelined from government and party affairs.
They argued that the situation has weakened the party's grassroots support and created opportunities for opposition groups to regain influence in the state.
The group further claimed that the governor no longer possesses the political influence needed to determine the party's future direction in Kwara, warning that candidates perceived to have his backing could face electoral difficulties.
As part of their appeal, the aspirants urged President Tinubu to carefully review developments within the state chapter of the party and promote a more inclusive process for selecting the APC's governorship candidate.
They also pledged to support any consensus candidate endorsed by the President if such a decision helps restore unity and strengthen the party ahead of the next election cycle.
Reacting to the petition, Governor AbdulRazaq's Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Ibraheem Abdullateef, suggested that President Tinubu had already endorsed the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, for the governorship position.
Abdullateef urged party members to embrace dialogue rather than conflict, arguing that unity would be essential for the APC's success in the 2027 elections. He maintained that while stakeholders may have concerns, the focus should now be on strengthening the party and preparing for future electoral contests.
The latest dispute highlights growing tensions within the Kwara APC over an alleged consensus arrangement favoring Danladi-Salihu, a development that has reportedly deepened divisions among party leaders and governorship hopefuls. Political observers say the outcome of the ongoing disagreements could play a significant role in shaping the APC's prospects in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 elections.
0 Comments