The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially thrown its weight behind the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, positioning him as the party’s primary flagbearer ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election.
​The strategic endorsement marks a definitive step in the party’s preparation to retain control of the state, signaling an early consolidation of power within the ruling party structure.
​Speaking on his emergence, Danladi-Salihu expressed deep appreciation to the party stakeholders, leadership, and delegates for their confidence in his leadership capacity. He declared that his mandate is built on a foundation of unity, describing the transition process as a win-win for all party faithful.
​”There is no winner and no loser in this process,” Danladi-Salihu stated. “Our collective goal is the progress of Kwara State. I am fully committed to sustaining and building upon the remarkable development legacies established by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”
​The Speaker’s camp has heavily anchored its campaign on policy continuity, promising to advance the infrastructural, educational, and economic reforms of the current administration.
​While the state party leadership has united around Danladi-Salihu’s candidacy, the development has expectedly heightened political maneuvers within the North Central state. Prior to his formal backing, various socio-political groups within the Kwara APC had pitched alternative aspirants, including former state party chairman Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa and APC chieftain Dr. Oluwatoyin Tajudeen Alabi.
​Political analysts note that the party’s choice of Danladi-Salihu, who hails from Kwara North, aligns closely with long-standing agitations from the northern senatorial district to produce the state’s next chief executive.
​However, the endorsement has not come without friction. Some internal party factions, including voices associated with the historic ‘Otoge’ movement, have raised concerns over the selection process, warning that internal cohesion must be strictly maintained to ensure victory in the 2027 general elections.
