APC Stakeholders Protest Over Imposition In Kwara, Warn Party Risks Defeat In 2027, Demand Tinubu’s Intervention

Ilorin, Kwara State– A coalition of stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State on Monday staged a protest rally in Ilorin, demanding an inclusive, transparent and consultative process ahead of the party’s 2027 primary elections, while warning that the ruling party could lose the state to the opposition if the current leadership style is not changed.

The aggrieved stakeholders accused the party leadership in the state of sidelining key members in major decisions, including preparations for the 2027 elections, governance matters and the alleged endorsement of a preferred governorship aspirant without broad consultations.

Speaking with journalists during the rally, former Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe said the protest was organised to reject attempts to impose a particular aspirant on the party without carrying stakeholders along.

According to Oloriegbe, the group’s action was motivated by a desire to protect the future of the APC in Kwara rather than personal political interests.

“Our action is not driven by selfish interests but by our desire to strengthen the APC in Kwara because we believe the party still has much to offer the state,” he said.

The former senator maintained that the concerns raised by the protesters went beyond the governorship race, stressing that they also covered the conduct of primary elections for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate seats.

He accused the party leadership of failing to adequately involve stakeholders in decisions affecting party administration, governance and preparations for the forthcoming primary elections.

Oloriegbe warned that unless urgent steps were taken to address the grievances, the APC could suffer electoral defeat in the 2027 general elections.

He noted that several founding members of the party, former senators and other influential stakeholders who contributed significantly to the APC’s victory in the 2019 elections had allegedly been excluded from critical consultations.

Speaking on the group’s next line of action, Oloriegbe said no single individual would determine their future steps, explaining that stakeholders would collectively decide after wider consultations.

Also addressing supporters at the rally, Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District, said the gathering was organised not only to demonstrate the strength of the APC in Kwara but also to reaffirm support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Mustapha, the stakeholders remain committed to protecting President Tinubu’s political legacy and ensuring that the APC retains its electoral dominance in Kwara State.

He stated that the President had facilitated numerous developmental projects in the state through its federal lawmakers, adding that party members were determined to preserve the APC’s electoral strength ahead of the next general elections.

“If we are not careful, APC could face serious challenges in Kwara State. We want to prevent that from happening.

“The people of Kwara are progressive, and we want to sustain that progressive tradition. We are appealing to the President to listen to our concerns because they are in the interest of the party and the people of the state,” Mustapha said.

Responding to questions on whether the group had already endorsed a preferred governorship candidate, Mustapha said the APC had many qualified and competent aspirants.

He urged President Tinubu and the party leadership to ensure that a free, fair and transparent primary election was conducted so that party members would determine the eventual governorship candidate without interference.

The senator also said the stakeholders were willing to participate in reconciliation efforts to resolve the crisis, although he acknowledged that many members remained sceptical because previous reconciliation attempts had failed to address their concerns.

Similarly, Senator Sadiq Umaru, who represents Kwara North Senatorial District, appealed to President Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene in the crisis.

He expressed confidence that the national leadership would respond positively and resolve the issues threatening unity within the party before the 2027 elections.

Governorship aspirants, including Mr. Bashir Bolarinwa and Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, also voiced dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the APC in Kwara State.

They called for greater inclusiveness, broader consultations and fairness in the management of the party’s affairs, particularly in the conduct of the 2027 primary elections.

The aspirants further appealed to President Tinubu and the APC national leadership to intervene and restore unity within the party to prevent internal divisions from weakening its chances in the next general elections.

Among prominent APC leaders and stakeholders who participated in the protest rally were Honourable Yinka Aluko, Senator Lola Ashiru, Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Dr. Muhyideen Salako Abdulazeez, Hon. Ismahil Tijani, party elders, chieftains and numerous supporters.

The protest comes amid growing internal tensions within the Kwara APC over the party’s succession plans and preparations for the 2027 elections, with the protesting stakeholders insisting that only an open, transparent and inclusive primary process can preserve party unity and prevent the APC from losing power in the state to opposition parties.