Kwara APC Risks Factionalisation Over Crowded Governorship Race

The growing number of governorship aspirants and other politicians seeking elective offices on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has sparked fresh concerns within the party. The development has fuelled fears of a possible internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections. To this end, a sociopolitical group has […]

The growing number of governorship aspirants and other politicians seeking elective offices on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has sparked fresh concerns within the party.

The development has fuelled fears of a possible internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.

To this end, a sociopolitical group has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene.

Daily Trust reports that about 15 governorship aspirants are presently jostling for the ticket, including around two female aspirants.

Some of the aspirants are Olufemi Kolawole Sanni, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Mohammed Omar Bio, Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, Amb. Yahaya Abdulfatai, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, and Tajudeen Audu Abdulkadir.

Others include Salihu Mustapha, Azeez Salako Muideen, Bashir Omolaya Bolanlewa, Ahmad Ibrahim Mahmoud, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, and Prof. Olawale Adeniyi Rafiu Sulaiman.

The female aspirants are Mahalia Aisha Ahman-Patigi and Musliat Yetunde Bello-Adebowale.

It was not clear on Tuesday afternoon whether Senators Lola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq have pulled out of the race contrary to viral online reports in the state.

While a source from Senator Lola Ashiru’s camp confirmed that he has purchased the senatorial form, some members of Senator Sadiq’s constituency under the Patigi Development Association (PEDU) have called on him to jettison his senatorial ambition in respect of the zoning arrangement in the senatorial district.

Also, about 154 aspirants have indicated interest and are currently undergoing screening at the party secretariat to contest for only 24 seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly, despite calls for consensus building.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, a group within the party, Democratic Network International (DNI), led by its coordinator Israel Babatunde, warned that conducting primaries without a consensus arrangement could fracture the party structure in the state and trigger avoidable political tension.

The group said Kwara currently has the highest number of governorship aspirants among the 28 states preparing for the 2027 governorship elections.

It noted that while the development reflects democratic participation, it also exposes what it describes as a growing leadership challenge within the party in the state.

DNI compared Kwara’s figures with other states, saying Abia has five governorship aspirants, Adamawa 10, Bauchi eight, Oyo 11, and Rivers four.

It argued that the large number of aspirants contesting various positions under the APC in Kwara “indicates the absence of internal political coordination and consensus-building mechanisms among party leaders.”

The organisation warned that allowing the governorship race to proceed without strategic intervention could deepen divisions within the APC.

“In a situation where an unpopular aspirant is preferred over a more popular one because of self-centred interests or ethnic sentiments, the party may have itself to blame if such a plan is allowed to scale through,” the statement said.

The group said party leaders ought to have created an atmosphere of civility that would produce a broadly acceptable candidate ahead of the elections.

It further revealed that more than 40 aspirants have purchased nomination forms for House of Representatives seats, while 154 are contesting for the 24 seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly.

DNI said the growing number of aspirants has raised concerns over the huge amount being spent on nomination forms.

“If the amount spent by APC aspirants in Kwara on forms is calculated, it will run into over N3 billion for a state that is not among the most economically viable in the country,” the group stated.

The organisation added that stronger coordination by party leadership could have reduced tension through dialogue and consensus building.

“It would be better for the party to work towards a consensus candidate because, as it stands, the primaries may factionalise the party,” Babatunde said.

The group praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what it described as an open political environment that allows broader participation within the APC.

However, it urged the governor to emulate the approach adopted in Borno State, where Governor Babagana Zulum reportedly rallied stakeholders around a consensus arrangement to avoid post-primary disputes.

DNI said consensus building is necessary to preserve stability within the party and sustain APC’s political strength in the state.

“The governor, as leader of the party in the state, must work with the national leadership to sustain peace after the nomination process,” the statement added.

The group also appealed directly to President Tinubu to intervene before the contest escalates into a full-blown internal crisis.

It said similar interventions by the President in states such as Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, and Ekiti had helped calm internal tensions and stabilise party structures ahead of elections.

“President Tinubu is urged to step into the Kwara situation to preserve the fragile peace within the party in the state. The time to act is now,” the statement said.

The development comes amid rising political activities and consultations within the Kwara APC ahead of the party’s primaries.