The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its full weight behind the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In a move to solidify the party’s stance, the State APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, described the former two-term Speaker of the State House of Assembly as a seasoned leader whose track record of stability and competence makes him the ideal successor to the incumbent, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Speaking during an appearance on TVC’s Breakfast Show on Friday, Fagbemi dismissed growing criticisms surrounding the party’s primary election.
He insisted that the process was transparent and credible, yielding a candidate who has already proven his mettle in the halls of government.
“Speaking of competence, this is someone who served as Speaker of the State House of Assembly for two terms without rancour,” Fagbemi noted. “He maintained synergy with other arms of government, which is a rare feat that clearly answers any questions about his ability to lead.”
Addressing speculations that Danladi-Salihu’s candidacy is merely a proxy for a “third-term agenda” by the current administration, Fagbemi was blunt. “Are they saying Danladi is not a Kwaran? Everyone prays to grow in politics. This is not the era in Kwara when someone would put a surrogate in office,” he asserted.
Fagbemi also tackled rumors of internal fracturing and the sidelining of key stakeholders. He maintained that the APC is more united than ever, bolstered by the return of former opposition leaders and continuous grassroots expansion.
“Most of those who were rumored to be sidelined actually left before the 2023 elections, and we still won,” he said. “When they returned, we reabsorbed them. We are not losing members; we are winning more.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 ballot, the Chairman signaled that the party’s campaign will be built squarely on the achievements of Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration. He pointed to widespread infrastructural improvements, specifically highlighting the state’s healthcare revitalization.
“There is no one of the 193 wards in Kwara State where you will not find a functional healthcare centre today,” Fagbemi stated, noting that urban transformation and investments in education have been hallmark successes of the current tenure.
With the party machinery now set in motion, Fagbemi expressed extreme confidence in the upcoming electoral cycle. Reflecting on recent tours across the state, he promised that the APC’s victory margin in 2027 would be substantial, setting the stage for a confident defense of the party’s mandate.
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