Kwara APC ward chairmen downplay Mustapha’s defection

More than fifty All Progressives Congress (APC) ward chairmen in Kwara Central have dismissed Senator Saliu Mustapha's switch to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as a personal choice, stating it will not weaken the ruling party's grassroots network. Led by Baba Gobir Abdullahi, chairman of Gambari Ward II and the APC ward chairmen across Kwara State's 193 wards, the officials reaffirmed their allegiance to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and pledged to rally support for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi emphasized that the ward chairmen serve as the "engine room" for APC in Kwara Central, responsible for grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement. He dismissed the notion that Mustapha's 2023 senatorial win was an individual triumph, asserting it was the result of collective party efforts, AbdulRazaq's leadership, and grassroots members.

He maintained that Mustapha's departure did not reflect the sentiments of voters in Kwara Central, declaring the APC "fully intact, vibrant, and united" behind AbdulRazaq. "Don't be misled by the political expedience of individuals who prioritize their personal interests over your collective growth. The APC stands as the sole party committed to the welfare of ordinary Kwarans in governance," Abdullahi stated.

The ward chairmen subsequently expressed confidence in AbdulRazaq and endorsed APC gubernatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, vowing to support the party's candidates in the 2027 elections. Responding to the defection, a senior aide to Mustapha, Alabi Abdulkareem, suggested that the reactions from APC members to the senator's switch indicated the party's upheaval.

"Since Senator Saliu Mustapha left the APC, all of them, from top to bottom, have been restless. As of the last count, thirteen individuals have spoken about his defection on local radios. Three have addressed it on national television. At least four different emergency press conferences have been convened, including this one," Abdulkareem noted.

He argued that the party should have been at ease if, as claimed by its members, Mustapha's defection held little political weight. Abdulkareem said the response had instead bolstered his camp's belief that Mustapha's defection had unsettled the APC, adding that more than half of the remaining APC ward chairmen in Kwara Central were "fully with us in spirit and soul," though physically remaining within the party.