10 gov aspirants write Tinubu over Kwara leadership crisis 

Ten governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over leadership crisis within the party, alleging that governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq no longer possesses the political influence or credibility to determine the party’s future in the state.

In a joint letter addressed to the President, the aspirants warned that the ruling party risks losing its electoral strength in Kwara if urgent steps are not taken to address mounting grievances among party stakeholders.

The petitioners, who reaffirmed their loyalty to President Tinubu and support for his re-election bid in 2027, expressed concern over what they described as increasing exclusion, division and lack of internal democracy within the state chapter of the APC.

According to them, the coalition that propelled the party to victory during the 2019 “Otoge” political movement has gradually been weakened by years of alleged marginalisation of key stakeholders who contributed to the party’s success.

The aspirants argued that many influential party members have been sidelined from government and party affairs, a situation they said has eroded grassroots support and created opportunities for opposition parties to regain political ground.

They further claimed that governor AbdulRazaq’s popularity within the party had declined significantly, insisting that any governorship candidate perceived to have emerged through his endorsement could face serious electoral challenges.

The group urged President Tinubu to personally review developments within the Kwara APC, including allegations surrounding the conduct of recent party primaries and the emergence of a preferred governorship candidate.

They also called for a more transparent and inclusive process capable of uniting all factions within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Despite their grievances, the aspirants pledged to support any consensus candidate eventually endorsed by the President, promising to mobilise their supporters for the party’s success.

Responding to the development, Ibraheem Abdullateef, the senior special assistant on communication to the governor dismissed calls for a reversal of the process.

He maintained that President Tinubu had already endorsed Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara state house of assembly and urged aggrieved stakeholders to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation.

Abdullateef said party members should focus on reconciliation and preparations for the 2027 elections, warning that prolonged internal disputes could harm the party’s chances at the polls.