Kwara 2027: APC Chieftain Decries Internal Crises, Warns PDP May Capitalise on Party's Decline

Date: 2026-06-17

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Hon. Toyin Olosasa, has raised the alarm over what he described as the party's declining fortunes ahead of the 2027 governorship election, warning that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be headed for an "easy victory" in the state.

Olosasa, in an interview with Arewa PUNCH on Sunday in Ilorin, blamed internal party decisions and leadership style for what he said was the steady erosion of the APC's political strength in the state.

He particularly faulted the emergence of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi, as the party's governorship candidate, arguing that the development had triggered widespread dissatisfaction and weakened party cohesion across the state.

According to him, the outcome of the primary election has not only demoralised party loyalists but also created political openings that could be exploited by the opposition PDP and other rival forces.

Olosasa stressed, "I said it recently that there is nobody Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorses in this state today that can win any election again. His endorsement has become a curse rather than a blessing, and that is exactly what is now playing out in Kwara."

He maintained that the mood within the party had sharply contrasted with expectations following the primary, insisting that rather than celebrations, there was growing resentment among members.

"Since Danladi was declared the candidate, you will observe that nobody is jubilating. The average party member is mourning rather than celebrating," he said.

The APC stalwart further accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of mismanaging internal party structures and alienating key stakeholders, a development he said had weakened the party's grassroots mobilisation capacity that once delivered electoral victory in 2019.

Olosasa also expressed surprise that President Bola Tinubu reportedly endorsed the process that produced Danladi, despite what he described as clear signs of dissatisfaction within the party ranks.

He argued that the situation had raised broader questions about internal democracy within the APC and the direction of political decisions at both state and national levels.

"First, it is strange that Governor AbdulRazaq, who has destroyed party structures and alienated key leaders across the state, was still allowed to produce a successor," he said.

"Secondly, the candidate that emerged is, in my opinion, an even worse version of the outgoing governor. To worsen matters, he is neither the most acceptable candidate from Kwara North nor the most popular politician within the APC across the state."

Olosasa alleged that the manner of the candidate's emergence had fuelled suspicions among party members about possible political arrangements at higher levels of power, suggesting that such developments could ultimately benefit the opposition.

He also referenced speculation surrounding alleged political alignments involving the Presidency and the Saraki political camp, saying such perceptions were further deepening internal mistrust.

"If that is the ultimate objective, then they should simply tell us so that we can all line up behind Saraki. Saraki, in himself, is not a bad person," he said.

The APC chieftain warned that unless urgent reconciliation and restructuring efforts were undertaken within the party, the APC risked losing its grip on Kwara State in 2027.

According to him, the opposition PDP is already benefiting from the ruling party's internal divisions, declining morale and accusations of imposition.

"Kwara today is looking like a walkover for the PDP. Those engineering the current situation may not realise it now, but they are gradually handing over the state to the opposition," he said.

He maintained that his concerns were not isolated, insisting that several APC stakeholders privately shared similar views but were unwilling to speak publicly for political reasons.

Olosasa cautioned that continued disregard for internal warnings could have severe electoral consequences for the ruling party in the next general election cycle.

The APC in Kwara State has, in recent months, been grappling with a heated succession struggle following moves to shape the emergence of a preferred governorship candidate by AbdulRazaq.

The development culminated in the emergence of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the party's flag bearer, a process that reportedly deepened divisions and triggered discontent among key stakeholders.

The outcome of the primary, according to party insiders, has continued to generate friction within the APC, with allegations of imposition, boycott threats and petitions sent to the national leadership in Abuja by aggrieved aspirants and blocs within the party.

Closely tied to the crisis is the long-standing zoning question, particularly agitation from Kwara North stakeholders who argue that the region has been politically sidelined since 1999.

While the APC has attempted to manage the rotation debate, disagreements over candidate selection have further fragmented party unity and weakened regional consensus ahead of 2027.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Simeon Sayomi     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Olatunji Moronfoye     National Pilot     CUTI     Abubakar Imam     Abubakar Ndakene     Omu-aran     Lanwa     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Elesie Of Esie     Roheemat Hammed     Ishola Abdullahi     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Peculiar Allowance     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Afonja     Pategi     Lanre Badmas     Adekunle David Dunmade     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Hassan Taiye Salam     Pacify Labs     Tunji Oyawoye     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Kawu     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Ilesha-Gwanara     TIC     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Adaramaja     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Tosho Yaqub     Simeon Ajibola     Dankaka     Musa Yeketi     March 28     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Mohammed Abdulahi     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Idiagbon     Laolu Saraki     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Sanitation Exercise     Popo-Igbonna     Saka Abimbola Isau     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Yahaya Dumoye     Akeem Olatunji     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Yusuf Mubarak     Jebba     Arca Santa     Ile Arugbo     Esinrogunjo     Durosinlohun Atiku     IFK     Makama Of Ilorin     Abdulmutalib Shittu     Ben Duntoye     Samuel Adedoyin     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Ahman Pategi University     Bahago     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Bolaji Abdullahi     Moro     Alabi Lawal     Aliyu Alhassan     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Undergraduate Bursary     Bamikole Omishore     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

All Peoples Party     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Aiyedun     Ayobami Akanbi     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Chief Imam Of Offa     CACOVID     Okedare     Barakat Community Secondary School     Lotus Bank     Adeola Abraham     Kisira     Alabere     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Oloriegbe     Diagnostic Centre     CCB     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Toyin Abdullahi     Mumeen Lah     Col. Adedipe     Trader Moni     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Hijab     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Sobi FM     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Busari Alabi Alausa     Ahmed \'Lateef     Babata     Jare Olatundun     Rashidi Yekini     MINILS     Femtech     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Tunde Kazeem     Alliance For Democracy     Baaziki Sulaiman     Edu     Durbar     Benin Republic     Alanamu     Ilorin Like-Minds     Adebayo Salami     Olaosebikan     Ramadhan     Aisha Gobir     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Ubandoma     Ajuloopin     Idofin     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Ekweremadu     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Kulende     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Dan Masanin     Hauwa Nuru     MAI Akande     Ilorin Amusement Park     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Ajakaye     Idiagbon     Kumbi Titilope     Yetunde Balogun     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Kwarareports     Tafida Of Kaiama     Minimum Wage     Chief Of Staff     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Osinbajo     Hussein Oloyede     Shettima