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APC risks losing Kwara in 2027 if internal grievances are ignored, youths warn
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The controversy surrounding the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Kwara State took a new turn as a coalition of youths within the party openly rejected the emergence of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 governorship election.
The group, operating under the banner of the Coalition of APC Youths, called on the national leadership of the ruling party to urgently review the outcome of the May 22 governorship primary, warning that failure to address growing concerns among party stakeholders could threaten the APC’s chances of retaining power in Kwara State in 2027.
The coalition made its position known on Wednesday when its members stormed the APC National Secretariat in Abuja to submit a formal petition demanding the endorsement of Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari as the party’s consensus candidate for the forthcoming governorship election.
The petition, signed by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Babajide Ode, was addressed to the National Chairman of the APC and copied to President Bola Tinubu, the Deputy National Chairman (North), members of the party’s North-Central zonal leadership and other influential stakeholders within the ruling party.
According to the coalition, Yahaya Seriki remained the most widely accepted and electorally viable aspirant capable of delivering victory for the APC in Kwara State, arguing that his popularity transcended ethnic, religious and senatorial boundaries.
The youths said extensive consultations and political assessments conducted across the state showed overwhelming grassroots support for Seriki among party members, community leaders, youths, women’s groups and other critical stakeholders.
“Our findings indicate that Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari remains the most acceptable, marketable and widely supported aspirant capable of securing victory for the APC in the forthcoming governorship election in Kwara State in 2027,” the petition stated.
The coalition attributed Seriki’s growing popularity to what it described as his longstanding commitment to humanitarian service, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, educational support programmes, women-focused initiatives and community development projects spread across the 16 local government areas of the state.
According to the group, his philanthropic activities, accessibility to ordinary citizens and unwavering loyalty to the APC had earned him widespread goodwill among party faithful and the broader electorate.
The petition further warned that dismissing the concerns of a significant segment of the party’s support base could deepen internal divisions and weaken the APC ahead of what was expected to be a highly competitive governorship contest.
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The youths maintained that the ruling party had to embrace inclusiveness, reconciliation and fairness if it hoped to preserve its electoral dominance in the state.
The coalition also raised concerns over what it described as increasing attempts by political actors to involve traditional rulers in partisan political activities and succession debates ahead of the 2027 elections.
While reaffirming their respect for traditional institutions and the revered status of monarchs, the group insisted that traditional rulers had to remain neutral and detached from political contests in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of their offices.
“We strongly condemn any effort by political actors to drag traditional rulers into political contests or succession battles. The traditional institution must remain neutral, respected and above partisan considerations,” the petition added.
The latest development followed the APC governorship primary election in which Rt Hon Yakubu Danladi-Salihu emerged victorious after polling 94,990 votes.
His closest rival, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari, secured 41,700 votes in the exercise.
Despite the official declaration of the result, the outcome continued to generate debate within political circles in Kwara State, with some stakeholders questioning aspects of the process and expressing fears that unresolved grievances could negatively impact party cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political observers noted that the disagreement reflected the growing contest for succession as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approached the end of his constitutionally permitted tenure.
For the APC, the challenge now lay in managing internal disagreements, fostering reconciliation among competing interests and maintaining party unity as the race to determine the state’s next governor gathered momentum.
With less than two years to the election, the unfolding dispute highlighted the intense political manoeuvring already underway within the ruling party, as aspirants and their supporters continued efforts to influence the direction of the APC and shape the future leadership of Kwara State.
