By Ayo Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has postponed its governorship primary election earlier scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, amid growing political tension surrounding the party’s succession battle ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The postponement was announced in an official notice issued by the Kwara State Publicity Secretary of the party, Abdulwaheed Babatunde.
According to the statement, the governorship primary will now be held on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Although the party did not officially state reasons for the sudden postponement, the development comes at a critical period of heightened consultations, internal alignments, and growing disagreements among aspirants and stakeholders over the emergence of the APC governorship candidate.
Before the postponement was announced, party faithful had already gathered in several wards and local government areas across the state in anticipation of the exercise.
The APC governorship contest in Kwara has attracted intense political interest, with 16 aspirants battling for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The aspirants include Senator Saliu Mustapha, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Mallam Yahaya Abdulfatai Seriki, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Olufemi Sanni, Mohammed Omar Bio, Dr Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Tajudeen Audu AbdulKadir, Dr Azeez Salako Muyideen, Ibrahim Mahmoud, Yetunde Musiliat Bello, Mahalia Aishatu Ahman-Pategi, and Professor Olawale Adeniyi Suleiman
The primary election has become increasingly controversial following Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s endorsement of businessman and party chieftain, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahya-Seriki, as his preferred aspirant and political successor.
The governor’s endorsement, announced earlier this week follows deepening succession crisis within the ruling party.
AbdulRazaq had described Yahya-Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” while urging party members and stakeholders to support his emergence in the interest of unity and continuity.
However, the endorsement has generated mixed reactions within the APC, with some aspirants and stakeholders expressing concerns over alleged attempts to impose a preferred candidate on the party.
The crisis intensified after most aspirants reportedly boycotted a strategic stakeholders’ meeting convened in Ilorin over fears that the gathering was designed to facilitate a consensus arrangement in favour of the governor’s preferred aspirant.
Party insiders said the disagreement has widened cracks within the APC, especially as different political blocs continue consultations ahead of the rescheduled primary.
The postponement may not be unconnected to ongoing efforts by party leaders to manage internal tensions and prevent a major division capable of weakening the APC before the 2027 governorship election..
Meanwhile, security presence was observed in parts of Ilorin and other strategic locations across the state as party officials and aspirants intensified last-minute consultations ahead of Friday’s exercise.
Despite the growing tension, APC leaders in the state have continued to express confidence that the party will conduct a peaceful and credible governorship primary capable of producing a strong candidate for the 2027 election.
