APC Youths Say No to Kwara Speaker as Governorship Candidate

A youth group in the All Progressives Congress has told the party leaders not to pick Yakubu Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election. They believe that choosing him could make the ruling party lose its hold on Kwara.

The group, called Progressives Youth of the APC, shared this message on Friday during a press briefing at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja. This statement comes as talks grow about who might succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who will finish his second and final term in 2027.

Segun Adewara, the leader of the group, spoke to journalists and said the APC should focus on winning elections rather than just making political decisions. He stated that to keep power in Kwara, the party needs a candidate whom the people will accept.

“We are committed to the peace and progress of our party and do not want the APC to lose its footing in Kwara. What we are saying is simple: if the party wants to win in 2027, it must present a candidate that is acceptable to the people. The current Speaker cannot guarantee that victory,” Adewara said.

He pointed out that there are many other candidates with better connections to the grassroots and stronger chances of winning than the Speaker. He added, “There are many qualified and popular individuals within the APC who can fly the party’s flag. Fielding Yakubu Danladi would put the party’s chances at serious risk.”

Adewara made it clear that their position was not aimed at attacking Governor AbdulRazaq. Instead, it comes from a genuine concern for the APC’s future in the state. He mentioned that party elders and stakeholders have already shared their opposition to Danladi’s governorship ambition, so young members also need to speak up.

“Our leaders have been speaking out on this issue for some time. We cannot leave the responsibility to them alone. The struggle is about the future of Kwara and the future of young people in the state,” he said.

He also warned that picking an unpopular candidate could undo the political progress the APC has made since ending the Saraki political dynasty's long reign in the 2019 elections. Adewara urged the party to ensure a fair and open process that would yield a candidate who can unite the APC and attract voters from all three senatorial districts in Kwara.

“Kwara needs a sellable candidate, someone who can bring together all segments of the population and all tendencies within the party. We need a genuine progressive who understands the state and can build consensus across board,” he said.

He added that ignoring the concerns of party members could lead to serious problems at the polls. “If our demands are ignored, it will be difficult for the APC to secure victory in Kwara in 2027. The consequences could affect the party from the presidential election down to the state level,” he warned.

The group called on the national and state leadership of the APC to make sure the governorship ticket comes from a fair, transparent, and competitive process, not just through political endorsements.

As the 2027 governorship race in Kwara heats up, speculation is growing about who will take over from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as he nears the end of his second term. The APC has not started its formal nomination process yet, but many political figures are already being talked about, leading to increased lobbying within the party.

The APC has led Kwara since the 2019 elections, when it won all elective positions under the “Òtógẹ́” (“Enough is Enough”) campaign, ending the Saraki political dynasty's long dominance. Observers believe that the party's choice of candidate will be key to keeping control of the North-Central state in the 2027 general election.