Kwara APC crisis deepens, gov’s camp storms Abuja party headquarters Monday

The implosion in the ruling Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to escalate as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s group storms the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday to meet with the national leadership over the crisis triggered by the alleged imposition of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the move by the governor’s camp comes on the heels of a strong petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by 10 gubernatorial aspirants who kicked against the recent primary election that produced Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

Recall that members of the party’s elders’ caucus in the state, led by Chief James Bamisaiye, and some aspirants had earlier rejected the emergence of Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu in Abuja. They alleged that he was anointed by Governor AbdulRazaq and urged the party’s national leadership to intervene.

The chairman of the party in the state, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, is leading the governor’s team alongside former PDP Secretary, Razaq Lawal, and Chairman of the Niger River Basin Development Authority, Abdullateef Alakawa, among others, according to sources.

Credible sources familiar with the latest development hinted that the high-powered delegation of APC stakeholders aligned with the governor is on a mission to present the governor’s position to key organs of the ruling party.

A source involved in the planning of the Abuja trip revealed that arrangements had been concluded for members of the delegation to depart Ilorin aboard a chartered flight.

According to the source, the decision to use a chartered aircraft was informed by a desire to ensure that details of the movement are kept away from public scrutiny.

“We want to ensure that nobody knows who is travelling. So, we are leaving by 6 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, through a chartered flight,” the source said.

The governor’s group is expected to meet with the national chairman of the party and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The team is also expected to hold consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as part of broader efforts to secure support for the governor’s position on the unfolding political developments within the ruling party in the state.

While the governor’s supporters insist that the party remains united and capable of resolving its internal differences, political analysts and critics are, however, of the view that recent developments reflect widening cracks within the APC’s structure in the state.

Kwara APC crisis deepens, gov’s camp storms Abuja party headquarters Monday