Kwara Senator Saliu Mustapha Quits APC

The trouble in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has gotten worse after Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central in the Senate, resigned from the party.

Mr Mustapha announced his resignation in a letter dated 14 August. He sent the letter to the APC Ward Chairman of Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East Local Government Area. He also shared the letter on his verified social media accounts.

In a separate statement on social media, the senator explained that he made this decision after consulting with his supporters, constituents, and political leaders across Kwara State for weeks.

He said recent events in the APC in the state, especially how the leadership has acted, have made him lose faith in the party.

“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.”

In his resignation letter, the senator mentioned that he joined the APC as a founding member because he believed in the party’s ideals of good governance, unity, and service.

Yet, he accused the party leadership in Kwara of moving away from the principles of collective unity and internal democracy that the APC was built on.

“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 assured that his resignation would not change 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.

His resignation comes amid a growing conflict within the Kwara APC over the party’s 2027 governorship and legislative primaries.

Mr Mustapha was a leading candidate for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

The party eventually selected Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, as its governorship candidate.

This left Mr Mustapha without the governorship ticket he sought and raised questions about his political future. The Independent National Electoral Commission listed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the APC candidate for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

The governor is in his second and final term and cannot run for re-election in 2027.

This situation means that unless the party’s nomination changes, Mr Mustapha will not return to the Senate under the APC after his current term.

This scenario sparked speculation about possible political shifts involving the senator and other unhappy APC members.

Before resigning, Mr Mustapha was part of the G15 coalition of party members challenging the APC governorship primary results.

The group includes other key aspirants and party leaders like Abdulfatai Seriki, a former senator, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, and former APC state chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa.

They have argued that the process that picked Mr Danladi-Salihu did not reflect agreements made among key players before the primary.

The disagreement escalated in August when G15 members protested in Ilorin, asking President Bola Tinubu and the national APC leadership to step in.

At the protest, Mr Mustapha said the group was unhappy with how the party’s primary elections were managed.

“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 took part in the protest, warned that the ongoing crisis could hurt 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 leaders of excluding important stakeholders from talks leading up to the primaries.

The APC leadership has denied these claims. Its state chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, stated that the party’s candidates came from primaries held by its national headquarters following established guidelines.

The party’s governorship candidate, Mr Danladi-Salihu, acknowledged the grievances within the party and said they are working on reconciliation efforts.

“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.

Before resigning, there were signs that Mr Mustapha and other G15 members were looking for political options outside the APC.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the group was considering other political platforms ahead of the 2027 elections while still contesting the APC’s candidate choice.

There were rumors that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the state, has offered its senatorial ticket to Mr Mustapha.

Political analysts noted that the political landscape is tightening for other dissatisfied APC aspirants, although last-minute changes could still happen before the 19 September deadline for candidate substitutions.

The analysts said the G15 still believe there is a chance for a political solution, but time is running out.

Mr Mustapha’s resignation clearly shows that the disagreement has gone beyond an internal fight over party nominations.

In his statement, the senator did not say which political platform he plans to join or if he will run for the 2027 election under a different party.

He said his decision will be based on his political values 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.

His resignation likely puts more pressure on reconciliation efforts within the Kwara APC, especially as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

The party has tried to show unity despite the conflict, with its candidates recently getting the backing of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The monarch praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration and prayed for the success of the APC candidates.

This endorsement came after supporters of the APC candidates held a rally in Ilorin, just after the G15 protest.

These activities showed the deep disagreement in the party despite claims of reconciliation.

For Mr Mustapha, his resignation changes the political scene further. He leaves the APC when another aspirant has taken the party’s governorship ticket and the APC senatorial ticket for Kwara Central has gone to Mr AbdulRazaq.

His next political move could affect more than just his future, especially if other G15 members follow his example or if the group comes to a deal on a new platform.

For now, Mr Mustapha has made one thing clear: he is no longer with the APC.