Kwara senators seek review of APC primaries, reconciliation

Fresh cracks have emerged within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as the three senators representing the state called for a review of the party’s recent primary elections and the establishment of a reconciliation committee to address growing grievances among members.

The lawmakers, under the aegis of the Kwara APC Senate Caucus, expressed concern over what they described as the erosion of party cohesion and controversies surrounding the recently concluded governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly primaries.

In a communiqué issued on Tuesday after a joint session and signed by Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (Kwara South) and Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), the lawmakers said the party was passing through a critical period requiring urgent intervention.

The senators lamented what they described as the exclusion of legitimate stakeholders from key decision-making processes within the party.

“The Caucus observes an erosion of party cohesion. Legitimate stakeholders have been excluded from critical decision-making, breeding grievance where there ought to be consensus,” they said.

The lawmakers also faulted the conduct and outcome of the recent primaries, particularly the screening exercise for aspirants seeking State House of Assembly tickets.

“The recently concluded Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly primaries have generated avoidable controversy.

“Most disturbingly, approximately 70 per cent of sitting lawmakers were unable to clear the screening exercise for the State House of Assembly, an outcome that, on its face, cannot be reconciled with the principles of merit, fairness, and institutional memory,” the senators said.

They called on the state leadership of the APC and the National Working Committee to immediately establish a high-level reconciliation committee.

“We call upon the State APC Executive, in concert with the National Working Committee, to constitute a high-level Reconciliation Committee with a clear 30-day mandate to reintegrate aggrieved and marginalised members,” they said.

The caucus also urged the party to review the screening and primary outcomes affecting experienced lawmakers and other aspirants.

“The appropriate organs of the party must revisit the disqualification of experienced incumbents across the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly, with due regard to proven capacity and demonstrated service,” the senators stated.

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Beyond the internal crisis, the lawmakers expressed concern over worsening insecurity in parts of the state, saying rural banditry and kidnappings were threatening agricultural activities and worsening food inflation.

“Deteriorating security remains a major concern. Rural banditry and kidnapping continue to undermine our agrarian economy and aggravate food inflation, demanding urgent and coordinated response,” they said.

The senators also recommended a comprehensive review of party structures across the state’s 193 wards and 16 local government areas to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and restore discipline within the party.

“A comprehensive audit must be undertaken across Kwara’s 193 wards and 16 local government areas to rebuild grassroots vitality, restore discipline, and shield our youth from vulnerability to criminal recruitment,” the communiqué added.

Reaffirming their commitment to governance and service delivery, the lawmakers stressed the need for unity as the APC prepares for future elections.

“This is a moment that calls for patriotism above factionalism, and the party above self. Kwara APC must emerge from this period stronger, broader, and more united,” they said.

The senators pledged support for any reconciliation process capable of preserving the integrity of the party and safeguarding its electoral fortunes in the state.

The intervention comes amid a deepening crisis in the Kwara APC following the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy began during the screening of State House of Assembly aspirants, when more than 100 aspirants were disqualified, prompting protests and allegations of candidate imposition. Following pressure from aggrieved members, the party later reversed the decision and cleared all 159 legislative aspirants to participate in the primaries.

The crisis later extended to the governorship contest after Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, emerged winner of the APC governorship primary on May 22, 2026, defeating 14 other aspirants.

However, a group of governorship aspirants under the banner of the G10 rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities and questioning the legitimacy of Danladi-Salihu’s candidacy.

The opposition to his emergence was later echoed by the Kwara APC Elders’ Caucus, which accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of influencing the primary and warned that the lingering discontent could affect the party’s chances in the 2027 governorship election.