The crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has deepened following the resignation of Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central District in the Senate.
Mr Mustapha announced his resignation from the party in a letter dated 14 August and addressed to the APC Ward Chairman of Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East Local Government Area. The letter was shared via his verified social media handles.
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In a separate statement also posted on his verified social media handles, the senator said he reached the decision after weeks of consultations with his supporters, constituents and political stakeholders across Kwara State.
He said recent developments within the APC in the state, particularly the conduct of its leadership, had eroded his confidence in the party.
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“I have formally resigned my membership of the party in the state,” Mr Mustapha said.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly. It follows weeks of extensive consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders, my supporters, constituents across Kwara Central Senatorial District, and well-meaning Kwarans.”
Why Mustapha left
In his resignation letter, the senator said he joined the APC as a founding member because of his commitment to the party’s ideals of good governance, unity and service.
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He, however, accused the party leadership in Kwara of departing from what he described as the principles of collective unity and internal democracy on which the APC was founded.
“I believe political leadership must be anchored on integrity, competence, accountability and a sincere commitment to the collective interest of the people,” he said.
“The current leadership of the Party in Kwara State has fallen short of these standards and this has eroded my confidence in them.”
Mr Mustapha said his resignation would not affect his commitment to serving his constituents and the state.
“I remain fully committed to serving the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria with integrity, dedication and in the best interest of humanity,” he said.
The resignation comes against the backdrop of a deepening dispute within the Kwara APC over the party’s 2027 governorship and legislative primaries.
Fallout of primary
Mr Mustapha was one of the prominent aspirants who contested the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The party eventually produced the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as its governorship candidate.
The development left Mr Mustapha without the governorship ticket he had pursued and subsequently raised questions over his political future after the Independent National Electoral Commission published Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the APC candidate for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.
The governor is serving his second and final term and cannot seek re-election in 2027.
The development meant that, unless there was a change in the party’s nomination, Mr Mustapha would not return to the Senate under the APC after his current term.
The situation fuelled speculation about a possible political realignment involving the senator and other aggrieved APC stakeholders.
Before his resignation, Mr Mustapha had been part of the G15 coalition of party stakeholders challenging the outcome of the APC governorship primary.
The group includes other prominent aspirants and party figures, including Abdulfatai Seriki, a former senator, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, and a former APC state chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa.
The group has argued that the process that produced Mr Danladi-Salihu did not reflect agreements reached among stakeholders before the primary.
G15 seeks intervention
The dispute escalated in August when members of the G15 staged a protest in Ilorin, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to intervene.
At the protest, Mr Mustapha said the group was dissatisfied with the handling of the party’s primary elections.
“We are protesting because we are not happy with the way the party’s leadership handled the process that produced the candidates,” he said.
“We are not against anyone, but the process lacked fairness and inclusiveness. We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and restore equity within the party.”
The Deputy Senate Leader, Lola Ashiru, who also participated in the protest, warned that the crisis could damage the APC’s chances in the state.
“We are here because we want to protect the legacy of President Bola Tinubu. He has done so much for Kwara State. If we are not careful, there will be midnight for APC in Kwara State. That is what we are trying to prevent,” Mr Ashiru said.
Mr Oloriegbe also accused the state party leadership of excluding key stakeholders from consultations leading to the primaries.
The APC leadership has rejected the allegations.
Its state chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, said the party’s candidates emerged from primaries conducted by its national headquarters in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
The party’s governorship candidate, Mr Danladi-Salihu, has also acknowledged the grievances within the party and said reconciliation efforts were underway.
“Democracy is about the aggregation of interests. A reconciliation committee has been established, and I am confident it will ensure justice and strengthen unity within the party,” he said.
Options narrow
Before his resignation, there were already indications that Mr Mustapha and other members of the G15 were considering political options outside the APC.
PREMIUM TIMES had gathered that the group was exploring alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 elections, even as its members continued to challenge the APC’s choice of candidate.
There were speculations that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the state, has offered its senatorial ticket to Mr Mustapha.
Political analysts said the political space is gradually narrowing for the other aggrieved APC aspirants, although last-minute changes could still occur before the 19 September deadline for substitution of candidates.
The analyst said the G15 still believed there was room for a political resolution, but the possibility was becoming increasingly difficult with time.
Mr Mustapha’s resignation now provides the clearest indication yet that the dispute has moved beyond an internal contest over party nominations.
In his statement, however, the senator did not disclose the political platform he intends to join or whether he would contest the 2027 election under another party.
He said his decision would be guided by his political principles and commitment to his constituents.
“To my constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders in Kwara State and beyond, I assure you that while my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged,” he said.
APC faces fresh test
The resignation is likely to add pressure to reconciliation efforts within the Kwara APC, particularly as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
The party has sought to project unity despite the dispute, with its candidates recently receiving the endorsement of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
The monarch praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration and prayed for the success of the APC candidates.
“Governor AbdulRazaq has performed well. Starting from the Governor to all the candidates, may God grant you electoral success and may you not be put to shame,” the emir said.
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The endorsement came as supporters of the APC candidates held a solidarity rally in Ilorin, shortly after the G15 protest.
The competing activities exposed the depth of the disagreement within the party despite assurances of reconciliation.
For Mr Mustapha, his resignation changes the political calculation further. He now leaves the APC at a point when the party’s governorship ticket has gone to another aspirant and the APC senatorial ticket for Kwara Central has been given to Mr AbdulRazaq.
The senator’s next political move could therefore have implications beyond his own political future, particularly if other members of the G15 follow his lead or if the group reaches an agreement on an alternative platform.
For now, Mr Mustapha has only confirmed one thing: he is no longer a member of the APC.
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