A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, Uthman Alabi, has cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party could regain control of the state in 2027 if the APC fails to conduct credible and transparent primary elections.
Speaking on Sunday in Ilorin on behalf of the Kwara South APC Opinion Leaders, Alabi warned against actions capable of weakening the party’s internal structure and alienating loyal members ahead of the next general elections.
The stakeholders also opposed alleged moves to secure a third-term Senate ticket for the Deputy Senate Leader of the 10th National Assembly, Senator Lola Ashiru, ahead of the APC senatorial primary scheduled for Monday.
Alabi said the intervention was necessary to protect internal democracy and sustain the party’s dominance in Kwara State.
“Today, we speak as a committed APC group in Kwara South. We are united by one common objective: to ensure that the ongoing primary elections in our state are conducted in a free, fair, transparent, credible and democratic manner that will strengthen our party ahead of the forthcoming general elections,” he said.
He described the Senate primary as a critical exercise for the unity and future stability of the APC in Kwara South and the state at large.
“The Senate primaries are another very important exercise taking place on Monday, May 18, 2026. As stakeholders who believe deeply in the unity, stability and future victory of our great party, we consider it necessary to address the public at this critical moment.
“Our appeal today is simple, sincere and patriotic: let the right things be done,” he added.
Alabi warned that the imposition of unpopular candidates could create divisions within the APC and open the door for opposition parties to stage a political comeback in the state.
“We respectfully call on all those entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the Senate primaries to ensure that no avoidable errors are made, errors that may later haunt our party and weaken our collective political future,” he stated.
He noted that Kwara South remains strategically important to the APC, accounting for 83 of the state’s 193 wards and seven out of the 16 local government areas.
The group endorsed Dr Muheebat Dankaka as its preferred senatorial candidate, describing her as credible, experienced and widely accepted across the district.
“We collectively, as members of Kwara South Senatorial District, raise our voices to make it known that Dr Muheebat Adenike Dankaka is the preferred candidate for the Senate in our district. She is a trusted and tested woman; her antecedents are top-notch,” Alabi said.
According to him, Dankaka demonstrated strong commitment to Kwara South during her tenure as Chairman of the Federal Character Commission.
The stakeholders also criticised the political performance of the incumbent senator, questioning his decision to seek another term in office.
“We begin to wonder how people with no bearing and compassion for our children can have the audacity to want to contest for an elective position again after their abysmal failure in previous responsibilities,” he said.
The APC leaders further insisted that direct primaries should be conducted wherever consensus arrangements fail, in line with the party’s constitution and democratic principles.
“As clearly stated by the National Chairman of our great party, wherever there is no consensus candidate, there must be direct primaries.
“This position also aligns perfectly with the democratic principles repeatedly emphasised by our President. Transparency must prevail within the party structure,” Alabi added.
He stressed that the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections would depend largely on presenting candidates with strong grassroots support and public acceptance.
“What APC needs ahead of the next general elections is a candidate with proven antecedents, grassroots acceptance, loved and trusted by the people, and whose popularity can naturally translate into victory at the polls,” he said.
The group, however, commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for what it described as bold reforms and infrastructural initiatives aimed at repositioning the country.
“Our President has demonstrated courage, patriotism, bold leadership and commitment to national development through his policies, reforms and infrastructural drive aimed at rebuilding and repositioning Nigeria,” the stakeholders stated.
The Senate primary is expected to hold amid rising political tension within the Kwara South APC, with consultations and alignments intensifying among party stakeholders ahead of the exercise.
Ashiru had earlier declared interest in the 2027 governorship race before returning to seek re-election to the Senate, a development that has reportedly deepened divisions within the party.
He formally declared his governorship ambition on February 9, 2026, unveiled his policy direction in April, and later re-entered the senatorial contest.
The development has continued to generate disagreements among APC stakeholders, with cracks also emerging within his political base in Offa ahead of the primaries.
Advertisement
