APC faces internal battle over Kwara governorship succession
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State appears calm on the surface, a fierce struggle is unfolding over who will succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The debate centers on zoning, succession, and inclusiveness, with strong agitations from both Kwara North and Kwara South. Several prominent figures are emerging as potential contenders, each backed by different groups and interests. The outcome of these internal battles will shape the party’s direction and Kwara’s political future.
Key takeaways
- The zoning debate intensified in November 2025 when APC state chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi stated that no decision had been made on zoning the 2027 governorship ticket.
- Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq emphasized unity and development at an APC stakeholders’ meeting on December 24, 2025, and again at the party’s e-registration event on January 5, 2026.
- Suspended lawmaker Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon linked his suspension to not supporting the alleged 2027 governorship ambition of Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, speaking out on January 3, 2026.
- In the first week of January 2025, Senator Oyelola Ashiru received endorsements from groups and stakeholders in Kwara South for the governorship.
- On January 6, 2025, the Kwara Young Progressives Network publicly urged Prof. Wale Sulaiman to contest the 2027 governorship, citing his credentials and past service.
- The Kwara Legacy Group adopted Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as its consensus governorship candidate on Friday, January 14, 2025.
