Kwara Lawmakers Endorse Speaker Danladi-Salihu For 2027 Governorship Race

Members of the Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday endorsed the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, for the 2027 governorship election, dismissing claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had yet to conduct a primary election to produce its candidate.

The lawmakers made their position known during a press briefing at the Assembly Complex in Ilorin, where they expressed confidence in Danladi-Salihu’s leadership and described reports questioning the party’s candidate selection process as misleading.

Speaking on behalf of the legislators, the Majority Leader of the House, Abdulkadri Magaji, said reports suggesting that no governorship primary election was conducted by the APC in Kwara State were false and capable of creating unnecessary tension within the party.

According to him, the APC duly conducted a primary election and produced a governorship candidate for the 2027 election in line with its constitution and internal procedures.

He urged party members and the public to disregard what he described as rumours and misinformation surrounding the process.

“The reports are false, misleading and capable of causing unnecessary tension within the party. A primary election has been conducted by the APC to elect a governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Kwara State,” Magaji said.

The lawmakers said their endorsement of the Speaker was based on his track record, legislative experience and contributions to governance in the state.

They noted that Danladi-Salihu had demonstrated leadership qualities that make him suitable to lead the state and expressed confidence in his ability to sustain the developmental strides of the current administration.

According to them, the endorsement represents a collective expression of confidence in his capacity to unite stakeholders and advance the interests of the state.

The legislators reaffirmed their commitment to the unity and progress of the APC in Kwara State, pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at promoting good governance and development.

They also called on party stakeholders to focus on strengthening the party ahead of future political activities rather than engaging in divisive speculation capable of undermining party cohesion.

Magaji further assured President Bola Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the lawmakers’ support as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, the member representing Ilorin East Constituency, Rukayat Shitti, dismissed opposition to Danladi-Salihu’s emergence as the preferred governorship candidate.

According to her, much of the resistance was motivated by personal ambitions rather than the collective interest of party members and the people of Kwara State.

She maintained that the Speaker enjoys broad support within the party and among lawmakers, adding that efforts should be directed towards consolidating the APC’s strength ahead of future elections.

The endorsement comes amid growing debate within the Kwara APC over the party’s governorship succession plan and claims by some stakeholders that the candidate selection process lacked inclusiveness, NEWSNGR reports.