Primaries: There are no losers in our party, Kwara APC tells replaced candidates

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday publicly rallied behind its candidates for the 2027 general elections despite opposition from some aggrieved aspirants.

It also declared that reconciliation efforts were underway to heal divisions arising from the party’s recently concluded primary elections.

Party leaders delivered the message during a thanksgiving road walk in Ilorin tagged: “Kwara Ndupe”.

They also reaffirmed their confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects and pledged to intensify mobilisation ahead of the next general elections.

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Organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, the procession attracted party leaders, candidates and supporters among others.

They described the gathering as an expression of gratitude for the peaceful conduct of the primaries and a demonstration of the party’s unity.

Addressing supporters, the Kwara State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Alhaji Abdulateef Alakawa, said the direct primary election reflected the wishes of party members and reinforced the APC’s commitment to internal democracy.

“Power belongs to the people, and the people have spoken through the direct primary elections. We are grateful to God that the primaries were peaceful and successful, with our candidates emerging across the various positions,” Alakawa said.

He said the road walk also marked the commencement of grassroots mobilisation for the 2027 elections.

He reaffirmed members’ loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Responding to concerns over aspirants who lost the party’s tickets, Alakawa dismissed suggestions of deepening divisions within the APC.

He insisted that no member had been abandoned after the primaries.

According to him, the party has already activated its reconciliation machinery to address grievances and strengthen internal cohesion.

“In every democratic process, there will be winners and others who may not emerge. As far as the APC is concerned, we have no losers. The party has already constituted a reconciliation committee, and we are confident all issues will be resolved,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the party’s Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, appealed to aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation and allow the party’s internal mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues.

He expressed confidence that the APC would head into the 2027 elections as a more united political platform.

“With what I have seen here, it is good to say that all our candidates are in. More people are still coming to join our party,” Samari said.

Also addressing the gathering, the Senior Adviser and Counsellor to Governor AbdulRazaq, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, urged party supporters to translate the enthusiasm displayed at the rally into grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls.

He challenged members to intensify voter registration, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection and polling unit mobilisation, saying the APC would campaign on its performance in government.

“This rally must translate to PVC collection, voter registration and polling-unit victory in February 2027. There must not be complacency.

“We will campaign on record, not insult, because our party has a record of road network, schools, hospitals and regular payment of salaries to show to Kwarans. The opposition has nothing,” Salau said

The APC candidate for Kwara North Senatorial District, Dr Ahmad Muhammad, thanked party members for the confidence reposed in him and described the decision to zone the governorship ticket to Kwara North as an indication of fairness and inclusiveness by the party leadership.

He said the turnout at the rally reflected growing support for Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration and expressed confidence that the APC would retain the confidence of voters in 2027.

“We are confident of victory. APC has continued to enjoy the support of the people, and we believe that will be sustained,” Muhammad said.

Similarly, the APC candidate for Kwara South Senatorial District, Mr Olalekan Adewoye, expressed appreciation to the party leadership and members for giving him the opportunity to fly the APC’s flag in the forthcoming election.

The APC candidate for Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency, Dr Rafiu Ajakaye, described the turnout as a reflection of the ruling party’s popularity and organisational strength.

He expressed confidence that the APC would retain power in the state.

“The crowd here is a testament to the fact that the APC is the party to beat. The election is ours to lose.

“You can see the support and the excitement. We are indeed grateful to the party faithful and members of the public who joined us during the rally,” Ajakaye said.

In his remark, Majority Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Barrister Oba Magaji Abdulkadri, said the large turnout at the thanksgiving walk demonstrated the APC’s strength and unity despite the recent primary contests.

“The future in Kwara State is APC from top to bottom, by the grace of Allah. The future is very bright.”

On the opposition’s chances, Abdulkadri said: “We are not afraid. As our leaders have said, there is practically no opposition in Kwara. We will continue to remain united and work together for the progress of the party and the state.”

The rally came amid efforts by the Kwara APC leadership to manage the fallout from the party’s primary elections, which sparked protests and public objections from some unsuccessful aspirants over the outcome of the exercise.

The party has since initiated reconciliation moves aimed at closing ranks and consolidating support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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