APC Crisis Deepens In Kwara As Senator Saliu Mustapha Resigns, Says Party No Longer Reflects His Convictions

• Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing to an end weeks of speculation over his political future.

• The senator said his decision followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents, citing recent developments within the party and insisting that politics must remain anchored on people, principles and purpose.

• Mustapha’s exit follows his failure to secure the APC’s 2027 governorship ticket and the party’s ticket to return to the Senate for Kwara Central, developments that had triggered reports of consultations with opposition forces.

• His next political move remains undisclosed, but the resignation is set to intensify the battle for Kwara ahead of 2027, amid earlier reports of contacts between his camp, PDP and the political network of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

August 21, () — Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, in a major political development that could reshape the battle for the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mustapha announced his resignation in a statement, saying the decision followed weeks of consultations with political stakeholders, supporters, constituents and other well-meaning Kwarans.

He said the development within the APC in recent times had compelled him to reassess his political direction, stressing that political participation must ultimately be about the people and the principles that guide public service.

According to the senator, where a political platform no longer aligns with the convictions of a politician and the aspirations of the people he represents, it becomes necessary to chart a new course.

Mustapha expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC for the relationships, experiences and opportunities he gained while operating within the party.

He, however, made clear that his departure from the APC would not amount to a departure from his political principles or his commitment to his constituents.

The senator assured the people of Kwara Central that while his political platform might change, his principles, purpose and commitment to them would remain unchanged.

Mustapha, who is also the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate, pledged to remain steadfast in his service to the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria.

From APC Governorship Hopeful To Party Exit

Mustapha’s resignation did not come unexpectedly to political observers. His resignation confirms the growing political uncertainty that had surrounded his relationship with the APC in recent weeks.

The senator had emerged as one of the prominent contenders for the APC’s 2027 governorship ticket in Kwara but ultimately lost the primary to Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

He also failed to secure the APC’s ticket to return to the Senate for Kwara Central, leaving his political future within the ruling party uncertain. Reports published before his resignation had linked the setbacks to growing disagreements within the party and intensified consultations over his next move.

The development subsequently fuelled speculation that Mustapha could leave the APC for the opposition PDP.

had reported on August 11 that fresh indications of a widening crack within the Kwara APC had emerged, with Mustapha reportedly considering a move to the PDP after the setbacks suffered in the governorship primary and the battle for the Kwara Central senatorial ticket.

At the time, multiple sources told that the senator had intensified consultations with political allies, supporters and stakeholders as he weighed his options.

also gathered that discussions between Mustapha’s camp and influential figures within the PDP had gained momentum, with opposition leaders reportedly exploring the possibility of accommodating him if he formally severed ties with the APC.

The speculation was heightened by a message attributed to the PDP’s Kwara Central senatorial candidate, Yinka Otukoko, which circulated on a political WhatsApp platform. The message suggested that the party’s ticket could eventually be ceded to Mustapha.

The PDP, however, subsequently distanced itself from the message. Its Kwara State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, dismissed it as unofficial and said Otukoko’s WhatsApp account had previously been compromised.

The possibility of a political realignment was also fuelled by a meeting between Mustapha and former Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Ilorin International Airport. While neither side publicly disclosed the purpose of the meeting, the encounter generated further speculation about possible political negotiations ahead of 2027.

A senior PDP source had confirmed that conversations were ongoing but stressed that no final agreement had been reached.

Another source had claimed that meetings involving the Saraki political camp and members of the G15 were exploring arrangements that could accommodate influential APC figures within the PDP’s electoral strategy.

More recently, reports indicated that the PDP had dangled its Kwara Central senatorial ticket before Mustapha, although there was no formal confirmation from the senator that he had accepted any such offer.

With Mustapha now formally out of the APC, the central question is no longer whether he will leave the ruling party but where he will go next.

Exit Opens New Front In Kwara 2027 Battle

Mustapha’s resignation could have consequences beyond his personal political future.

Kwara Central remains one of the state’s most politically significant districts, and the senator’s influence in the area makes his next political decision potentially consequential for both the APC and opposition parties.

The senator’s departure could provide opposition forces with an opportunity to strengthen their challenge to the APC, particularly if he eventually joins the PDP and secures a platform to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

It could also force the APC to reassess its strategy in the district, especially given the senator’s existing grassroots network and political visibility.

However, Mustapha has not, in his resignation statement, disclosed the identity of the political platform he intends to join.

That omission is significant because, while the PDP has featured prominently in reports about his consultations, his statement leaves open the possibility of other political arrangements.

His decision nevertheless represents a major break from the APC and marks another important development in the political realignment already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

For the APC, the immediate challenge will be containing the political consequences of the senator’s departure and preventing further defections from its Kwara structure.

For the opposition, particularly the PDP and political forces seeking to reclaim influence in the state, Mustapha’s exit presents a potentially valuable opportunity.