APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as 16 Kwara Aspirants Boycott Consensus Meeting
Fresh tension has erupted within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after no fewer than 16 governorship aspirants reportedly boycotted a strategic consensus meeting convened ahead of the party’s governorship primaries.
The development has exposed growing cracks within the ruling party as stakeholders intensify consultations over who emerges as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 general election in Kwara State.
According to reports, the meeting was summoned by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as part of efforts to harmonise interests among the numerous aspirants contesting for the APC governorship ticket. However, most of the aspirants allegedly stayed away from the meeting over fears that the process was designed to impose a preferred candidate on the party.
Only one aspirant, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), was said to have attended the session, leading to the postponement of the meeting due to poor participation. Sources within the party disclosed that many aspirants became suspicious after speculations emerged that party delegates and local government leaders were being mobilised to endorse a consensus candidate.
The crisis comes as the APC in Kwara battles internal disagreements over zoning, political calculations, and the search for a strong candidate capable of confronting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reportedly backed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Political observers believe the large number of governorship aspirants reflects both the growing interest in the state’s politics and unresolved leadership issues within the APC structure. Reports indicate that Kwara currently has one of the highest numbers of APC governorship aspirants among states preparing for the 2027 elections.
Among the prominent aspirants in the race are Senator Saliu Mustapha, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Yahaya Abdulfatai Seriki, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Yakubu Danladi Salihu, and several other political figures seeking the party’s ticket.
Insiders within the party revealed that disagreements have persisted over whether the governorship ticket should remain in Kwara North or shift to another senatorial district with stronger electoral influence.
The situation has reportedly attracted attention from APC leaders at the national level, amid concerns that unresolved disputes could weaken the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Political analysts have warned that failure to manage the growing tension may further deepen divisions within the APC and create an advantage for opposition parties seeking to reclaim power in Kwara State.
