Kwara PDP Faces Crisis as Two Groups Name Governorship Candidates

The trouble in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is getting worse in Kwara State. Two rival groups within the party have chosen different candidates for the 2027 governorship elections.

The group led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which includes the party leader and former Governor Bukola Saraki, has picked Kale Kawu as its governorship candidate. This decision came after a deal arranged by Mr Saraki where other candidates stepped aside for Mr Kawu.

But the peace didn’t last long. On Sunday, another faction led by Kabir Turaki (SAN) introduced Ladi Hassan, a longtime ally of Mr Saraki, as its candidate. This unexpected move has raised worries among party members and political watchers about a long legal and political battle over the PDP ticket for the upcoming elections.

Kwara PDP Secretary Kayode Abdulrahman reacted strongly to this news. He criticized Mr Hassan’s nomination, claiming that outside forces planned it to disrupt the party. He stated that Mr Hassan had taken part in the faction’s governorship primary and lost. Now he has reappeared through a group that he calls unrecognized.

“For him to have emerged as a governorship candidate in the fake PDP that is not recognized by INEC speaks volumes. He must have been sponsored by people outside our party. But I assure you they can’t succeed,” Mr Abdulrahman said.

This situation has revealed deeper divisions in the party as it tries to prepare for the next elections. Political analysts warn that if this crisis is not settled quickly, it could hurt the PDP's chances of winning power in the state.

At the same time, a political group in the party, the Kwara Patriotic Movement (Itesiwaju Kwara), is calling for the immediate suspension of Mr Hassan. They claim he broke the agreement that made Mr Kale the candidate. In a statement signed by their secretary, Uthman Kabir, and publicity secretary, Yusuf Dare, they accused Mr Hassan of going back on his word after signing the agreement with other candidates.

“For 48 hours, Kwara Patriotic Movement waited for clarity, for correction, for honour. What we saw instead was Mr Ladi Hassan, a signatory to the PDP’s sacred consensus agreement, standing openly with the faction working to undermine that same agreement,” the statement read.

The group described the consensus as essential for keeping peace within the party. They believe that agreements made among party members should not be ignored for personal gain. “A consensus agreement is not a campaign flyer you discard when another offer looks brighter. It is the glue that holds a party together,” they stated.

The group praised Mr Saraki for his dedication to party unity and proper leadership. They warned that ignoring discipline could harm the PDP’s chances in future elections and urged party leaders to take strong action.

“Party discipline is not punishment. It is protection. It protects the integrity of our process, the confidence of our members, and the future of our governorship ambition,” the statement added.

They insisted that the PDP state leadership should suspend Mr Hassan, emphasizing that the party must choose between “discipline or decay.”

As of now, there has been no official response from Mr Hassan or the Kwara State PDP leadership regarding these allegations. With both factions holding their ground, all eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and possibly the courts to decide who the rightful candidate of the PDP will be in Kwara State.