Kwara APC Aspirants Stage Solidarity Rally in Ilorin
A coalition of governorship aspirants and key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State gathered in Ilorin on Monday to protest what they describe as exclusionary party leadership.
Operating under the banner of Kwara APC G15, the group also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the state party affairs.
Background of the Protest
The rally followed a thank‑you march held the previous day by APC candidates, who thanked residents and President Tinubu for their support.
Protesters declared the relaunch of the Otoge movement, arguing that the principles that ended the Saraki political dynasty’s dominance in 2019 have been abandoned under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Who Joined the Rally?
The coalition comprises ten APC governorship aspirants, the state’s three serving senators, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers, elders, youth and women leaders, among others.
Thousands of supporters marched through major parts of Ilorin before converging at the Post Office area, carrying placards with messages such as “Kwara APC is in danger,” “We reject Ramoni’s leadership,” and “APC is not Ramoni’s private estate.”
Statements from Leaders
Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, told journalists that the rally reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the current party structure.
He said the group rejects the alleged endorsement of a preferred governorship candidate without proper consultation, stressing that the process, not the individual, is unacceptable.
In a joint statement, the coalition said it had concluded consultations in Abuja with senior APC stakeholders and national leaders over the crisis in Kwara.
“We have come to the firm conclusion that we owe it to our supporters, to the people of Kwara State, and to generations yet unborn to subordinate our individual political ambitions to one collective goal: the rescue of our party and the rescue of Kwara State,” the statement read.
The group urged Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to ensure a transparent succession process that reflects the wishes of the majority, noting that democracy derives its legitimacy from the consent of the majority, not from the preferences of a select few.
Views from Former Party Chairman
Former Kwara APC Chairman and governorship aspirant Bashir Bolarinwa said the grievances centre on the conduct of the primaries and the exclusion of key stakeholders who worked for the party’s victory in 2019.
He warned that without inclusiveness, there could be a “midnight coup” in the APC in Kwara State, and appealed to President Tinubu and the national leadership to intervene to protect the party’s legacy.
Leadership’s Counter‑Move
Meanwhile, the Kwara APC leadership presented its 2027 candidates to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu‑Gambari, for royal blessings. The delegation, led by state chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, reported that the Emir praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s performance and prayed for electoral success.
Fagbemi said the candidates emerged through primaries conducted by the national secretariat in line with party guidelines, and governorship candidate Yakubu Danladi‑Salihu described democracy as “an aggregation of interests,” promising that the party’s reconciliation committee would carry all stakeholders along.
About the Author
