Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has resigned from the APC and secured the PDP’s senatorial ticket for the district ahead of the 2027 elections, hours after announcing his defection.

Senator Saliu Mustapha

Upon the irreconcilable crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, the Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha of the Kwara Central district on Friday formally resigned membership of APC.

He has secured the Central senatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP.)

The Guardian Newspaper, during the week exclusively reported in its online that the serving senator had found solace in the PDP after several meetings, permutations and projections.

Mustapha, in his resignation notice said: “This is not a decision I have taken lightly. It follows weeks of extensive consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders, my supporters, constituents across Kwara Central Senatorial District, and well-meaning Kwarans.

“As a politician, I have always believed that politics must be about people, principles and purpose. Where the path of a political platform no longer sufficiently aligns with these convictions and the aspirations of the people one represents, the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course.

“To the leadership of the APC, ably led by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I express my deepest gratitude for the relationships and experiences I have been afforded over the years.

“To my constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders in Kwara State and beyond, I assure you that while my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged.

“I remain steadfast in my 

service to the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria at large,” he explained.

Recall that Mustapha contested for the gubernatorial ticket of his former party but lost to the Speaker state House of Assembly, Salihu-Yakubu Danladi while he also lost his return ticket to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

It was gathered that, the resignation of Senator Mustapha from the APC might not be unconnected with the alleged anomalies that marred the conduct of the APC primaries in the state.

Though, a peace reconciliation committee was set up to resolve the crisis but it didn’t produce positive results as some aggrieved members of the party didn’t appear before the committee,but instead joined another political party to realise their ambitions come 2027.

Apart from Senator Mustapha, another APC chieftain in Patigi local government, Hon. Kolo Jiya has allegedly resigned from APC for PDP and may clinch the Kwara North senatorial district ticket of the PDP for 2027 as well.

Weekend Guardian notes that 10 governorship aspirants in the election kicked against what they described as the imposition of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Engr. Salihu Yahaya Danladi, as the anointed governorship candidate of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the 2027 general elections.