KWARA APC GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE DENIES IMPOSITION, DEFENDS HIS EMERGENCE

By NaijaParrot October 13, 2026

 ILORIN, KWARA STATE — 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kwara State, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, has rejected allegations that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq imposed him on the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Danladi-Salihu, who is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, defended his emergence as the party’s flag bearer, insisting that his competence and leadership record should determine how he is assessed. Speaking in a video clip obtained by The PUNCH, the APC candidate maintained that he was not simply selected by the governor, challenging critics to evaluate his performance in public office.

Danladi-Salihu argued that his seven years as Speaker of the State House of Assembly had given him the experience needed to lead Kwara State. He pointed to his ability to manage lawmakers with different interests and maintain working relationships within the legislature as evidence of his leadership capacity. He also questioned the description of the Assembly as a rubber-stamp legislature, arguing that cooperation with the executive does not automatically mean lawmakers have abandoned their responsibilities. According to him, legislators can support government proposals they consider appropriate while still offering advice and corrections when necessary.

 The candidate’s comments come amid disagreements within the Kwara APC over the process that produced him as the party’s flag bearer. In June, a caucus of party elders and several governorship aspirants questioned the legitimacy and inclusiveness of the process, alleging that key stakeholders had been sidelined. Some called on the party’s national leadership and President Bola Tinubu to intervene. However, other APC stakeholders defended Danladi-Salihu’s emergence, insisting that the party’s primary was conducted properly and reflected the wishes of participating members. The conflicting positions highlight continuing tensions within the ruling party as it prepares for the 2027 election. 

 In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly dismissed a suit seeking to invalidate Danladi-Salihu’s candidacy. According to The Guardian, the court dismissed the case on October 7, 2026, on the grounds that the claimant lacked the legal standing to bring the action. The court also awarded ₦10 million in costs against the claimant. The ruling concerned the claimant’s legal standing and should not be interpreted as a judicial determination of every political allegation surrounding the party’s selection process. 2027 

 Danladi-Salihu is expected to contest the 2027 governorship election as the APC candidate, seeking to succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose tenure is due to end in 2027. With some party stakeholders questioning his emergence and others defending it, the APC’s ability to manage its internal differences will remain an important issue as the election approaches. 

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