By Muyideen Aliyu
Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Caucus has disowned the emergence of governorship primaries that produced Speaker Salihu Yakubu Danladi as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 governorship election.
This was made known by the chairman of the caucus, Sir (Dr.) Chief James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, JP, maintained that the exercise lacked transparency and failed to meet the expectations of party members across the state.
Ayenioye stated that the governorship primaries slated for May 21 was shifted by a day, and argued that the events that followed did not reflect a credible democratic process.
According to the caucus, “the controversy generates by the exercise has continues to deepen divisions among party faithfuls and key stakeholders.
“The Primary Election, which was originally scheduled to hold on May 21, was curiously postponed till the following day, and what followed subsequently left much to be desired,” the group said.
The caucus insisted that Danladi’s emergence was questionable, alleging that no meaningful primaries election was conducted before a winner was announced.
Members of the group further noted that, before Danladi’s emergence, another aspirant had widely been perceived within political circles as the preferred choice of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
They faulted the governor for what they described as inadequate engagement with influential party leaders and stakeholders on decisions capable of determining the APC’s future in the state.
The elders revealed that consultations carried out across Kwara’s three senatorial districts indicated widespread dissatisfaction among party members over the manner in which the candidate emerged.
Consequently, they urged the national leadership of the APC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the primary election and take necessary measures to uphold internal democracy and preserve confidence in the party’s processes.
But, also on Monday at a different venue, another APC elders caucus led by the State coordinator of the Renewed Hope Agenda, Hon. Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa described Ayenioye group as, “interlopers, who are not recognize by the APC structures in the state “
Alakawa explained that,We shouldn’t have dignified the claims of these interlopers who called themselves elders of our great party, the APC, by this response, but there’s is the need to put a lie to their fathom claims.
“The general public is aware of the fact that our party held its primaries for all the elective offices, including the governorship ticket in a peaceful atmosphere. The results of the governorship primary was announced by the chairman of the panel that was sent from Abuja to conductor the exercise, Hon. Musiliu Obanikoro in the presence of all loyal party members at the Banquet Hall along We shouldn’t have dignified the claims of these interlopers who called themselves elders of our great party, the APC by this response, but there’s is the need to put a lie to their fathom claims.
“The general public is aware of the fact that our party held its primaries for all the elective offices, including the governorship ticket in a peaceful atmosphere. The results of the governorship primary was announced by the chairman of the panel that was sent from Abuja to conductor the exercise, Hon. Musiliu Obanikoro in the presence of all loyal party members at the Banquet Hall.
“The governorship primary that was held on 22nd May produced the incumbent speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu as winner. Since that time, none of the other gubernatorial aspirant has raised a complaint on the outcome of the exercise. And as a team player, the APC gubernatorial candidate has since extended the hands of fellowship to his contestants.
“Not only this, Hon. Danladi has embarked on a tour of the residences of key stakeholders in the affairs of our dear state, including traditional rulers, who have all blessed him, assured him of their support and prayed for his victory at the polls come 2027.
“On the so-called elders disparaging comments on our leader, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, we want to clarify that the governor did not imposed any gubernatorial candidates on the party. The governor allowed a free contest in the gubernatorial primary while he was not also directly in charge of the conduct of the exercise. He as a democrat only accepted the outcome of the exercise which was adjudged peaceful, free and fair by those that supervised it.
“Declaring the result of the gubernatorial primary, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Supervisory Committee of Kwara State Governorship Primary, Senator Musliu Obanikoro said Danladi Salihu scored 94,990 votes to beat other eight aspirants that participated in the exercise.
“We recall that key contenders, including Amb. Yahaya Seriki, had earlier mobilized support for Danladi Salihu in a show of solidarity. All the five local government areas in the North returned more than 90% of their votes in favour of the Danladi Salihu, while he also led comfortably across the two other senatorial districts. In Southern District, Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero, and Ifelodun stood firmly behind the choice of the Speaker, underscoring his strong support base across the state
The above illustration showed that Danladi Salihu won the gubernatorial primary convincingly. What we expected of the so-called elders is to join hands with our governor and other stakeholders to ensure the victory of our governorship candidate and all other candidates of the APC at the poll.
“The conduct of these elders have shown that their not patriotic member of the APC and do not mean well for our dear Kwara State. We hold the opinion that every well meaning party man will pray for a successor who will continue the good work of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. “
“We want to assure His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Kwara is APC, the Governor and all other genuine stakeholders will deliver the state, once again to the APC come 2027. “