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The 2027 APC governorship aspirant and incumbent Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mustapha, the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate and one of the most influential political figures in the state, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 14, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the APC in Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area. The letter was made public on Friday, August 21.
The development comes barely weeks after Mustapha’s highly competitive bid for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections ended with the emergence of Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, as the party’s candidate.
In the resignation letter, Mustapha said his decision followed “careful considerations” of recent developments within the APC in Kwara State, as well as weeks of consultations with stakeholders, supporters, constituents and other well-meaning Kwarans.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly,” Mustapha stated, stressing that his decision was informed by the need to remain faithful to his political principles and the aspirations of the people he represents.
He added that politics, in his view, must remain centred on “people, principles and purpose,” arguing that where a political platform no longer sufficiently aligns with those convictions, “the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course.”
Mustapha nevertheless expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC for the relationships and experiences he had gained during his years in the party.
He also assured his constituents and supporters that his resignation from the APC would not alter his commitment to Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria.
“While my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged,” he declared.
From governorship hopeful to political uncertainty
Mustapha’s resignation is particularly significant given the circumstances surrounding the APC governorship primary.
The senator was among the strongest contenders for the party’s 2027 governorship ticket and had mounted one of the most visible campaigns across Kwara State long before the primary.
Despite Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s public endorsement of Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Mustapha remained firmly in the race, repeatedly insisting that his ambition was to become governor.
He also dismissed suggestions that he could abandon the governorship contest and return to the Senate, maintaining that he was focused on securing the party’s ticket to govern the state.
But the primary produced Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu, dramatically ending Mustapha’s bid to fly the APC flag in the 2027 governorship election.
Following the governorship primary, attention shifted to the question of how the APC would reconcile its defeated aspirants and keep its political family together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor AbdulRazaq had previously indicated that aspirants who lost the governorship contest would be accommodated, including through appointments.
For Mustapha, one of the widely anticipated options was a return to the Senate to defend his Kwara Central seat, where he is currently serving as a first-term senator.
However, the political calculation changed significantly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published Governor AbdulRazaq’s name as the APC candidate for the Kwara Central Senatorial District.
That development effectively shut the door on the possibility of Mustapha securing the APC ticket to return to the Senate.
The governor’s appearance on the senatorial ticket, coming after Mustapha’s unsuccessful governorship bid, has now added another layer to the political drama surrounding the senator’s decision to leave the party.
Will others follow?
Mustapha’s resignation could also have implications beyond Kwara Central.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate and Senator representing Kwara South, Oyelola Ashiru, as well as Senator Sadiq Umar of Kwara North, were also among the APC aspirants who sought the party’s governorship ticket but failed to secure it or their senatorial return tickets.
Both senators have also faced uncertainty over their political futures following the party’s primaries and the subsequent ticket arrangements.
Their next moves are now being closely watched, particularly in the wake of Mustapha’s decision to quit the APC.
Questions are already being raised over whether the two senators will remain within the APC fold, reconcile with the party leadership and support the emergence of Danladi Salihu, or ultimately consider alternative political platforms.
Where next for Mustapha?
For now, Senator Mustapha has not disclosed the political party he intends to join.
He has also not stated whether his resignation from the APC will affect his position on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
That silence has heightened speculation over the senator’s next political move.
With his extensive political network, strong grassroots structure and considerable influence in Kwara Central and across the state, Mustapha’s next decision could significantly reshape the political equation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The immediate question now reverberating across Kwara’s political circles is simple:
Where does Saliu Mustapha go from here, and what does his exit mean for the APC’s hold on Kwara ahead of 2027?
