EXCLUSIVE: Uneasy calm in Kwara APC as Gov AbdulRazaq battles against presidency’s Bolarinwa choice

…weighs dropping Danladi

There is an uneasy calm in the Kwara chapter of the All Progressives Congress, as Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq moves to counter what sources describe as the presidency’s backing of Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa for the party’s governorship ticket ahead of 2027.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter said the governor has activated his networks in Abuja, including fellow governors, in a bid to persuade President Bola Tinubu and key power brokers to consider an alternative choice.

The effort comes as AbdulRazaq is also weighing the possibility of dropping the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, and replacing him with an aspirant seen as more acceptable to the presidency.

Several meetings were held in Abuja on Monday and extended into Tuesday, according to sources. While no shift in the presidency’s position has been confirmed, some insiders said pressure from governors with similar succession interests could still alter the outcome.

“Immediately after the news broke, the governor reached out to some of his colleagues and began consultations on how to approach the president,” one source in Abuja said. “There have been a series of meetings. We are not certain of the final position yet, but there are indications of a possible alignment. Other governors also want to install successors, so there is a shared interest.”

Another senior party source said Bolarinwa’s relationship with Tinubu dates back years and remains a key factor.

“A highly influential figure from South-West took Bolarinwa’s aspiration to the president. He has longstanding ties with Tinubu from his Lagos days as Reps member and is widely regarded as part of his political circle,” the source said. “Convincing the president to drop him is very possible, but unlikely.”

The Informant247 reported earlier that the governor had submitted Danladi’s name to the presidency as his preferred candidate, a move that triggered tension within the state chapter of the party.

According to a source close to both the governor and the speaker, the report placed AbdulRazaq in a difficult position.

“He had to choose between denying the report or allowing it to stand,” the source said. “If he did not deny it, it could fracture the party, as several aspirants claim they were encouraged to run and assured of a level playing field. Denying it, however, meant distancing himself from his preferred choice. He chose to diplomatically deny it to avoid a crisis before the primaries.”

The situation, meanwhile, took a dramatic turn Thursday when reports emerged that the presidency had settled on Bolarinwa as its preferred candidate.

“The governor is in a dilemma. He cannot confront the presidency directly, yet he is uncomfortable with their choice,” another APC source said. “The political space has also shifted, with Bukola Saraki seen as increasingly aligned with Tinubu. That limits the governor’s leverage.”

‘Anybody but Bolarinwa’

Sources familiar with ongoing consultations said the governor is now reconsidering his options, including the possibility of backing a different aspirant altogether.

“He is becoming more flexible,” one source said. “He is open to alternatives. His close ally, Araba-Femi Sanni, has declared interest. We will likely see him adjust to a candidate acceptable at the national level, even if it means going to Kwara south. He feels the presidency posture might be rooting for a Kwara South candidature.”

The rivalry between AbdulRazaq and Bolarinwa dates back several years. In 2021, the governor backed moves that led to Bolarinwa’s removal as state party chairman, replacing him with Abdullahi Samari in an acting capacity. The dispute followed allegations by the governor that Bolarinwa led a campaign against him before and after his election.

Efforts to remove Bolarinwa during the tenure of former national chairman Adams Oshiomhole were unsuccessful. However, the move succeeded after a more governor-aligned Mai Mala Buni assumed leadership of the party’s caretaker committee.

Party insiders said Bolarinwa was widely viewed at the time as loyal to Tinubu, then the APC’s national leader. Oshiomhole also later acknowledged that his own removal at the national level was due to his loyalty to Tinubu.

“This sums up why the governor remains wary. There is a belief that if Bolarinwa becomes governor, past grievances could resurface. There is precedent. Governors also prefer successors who will not challenge them after leaving office,” a senior party source in Kwara said. “During a get-together held at the state banquet hall in Ilorin a few weeks back, the governor specifically invited Bolarinwa and mentioned his name at the event. They have also told Bolarinwa to move closer to the governor. But then, the relationship is most unlikely to work as the governor won’t be comfortable, regardless of reconciliation efforts ahead of 2027.

That is why he is pushing back strongly, even if it means sacrificing his own preferred candidate.”

Governor struggles to rally stakeholders

Sources also said the governor is facing difficulty rallying other stakeholders and aspirants to support his push for Bolarinwa to be dropped.

According to the sources, his position has already been exposed, weakening trust among key actors in the race.

“Other candidates now believe the governor has a preferred choice and may not be acting in good faith. As a result, many are reluctant to join efforts to pressure the presidency. While most of them are also uncomfortable with Bolarinwa, they are not aligning with the governor, except for one aspirant who has remained consistently loyal to him,” a source said. “Others are applying pressure through different channels. There is also a shared concern that if the PDP fields a strong candidate from Kwara Central, it could spell trouble for the APC.”

Onilu withdraws

Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant and Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, withdrew from the race early Thursday to support Bolarinwa.

The move, insiders said, reflects shifting political calculations within the party.

“Onilu is considered close to the presidency. His withdrawal suggests he may have read the signals early and decided to step aside,” a source said. “Others may follow if the current trajectory holds.”

Saraki factor

Separately, former Senate president Bukola Saraki is said to be in quiet contact with figures within the presidency, as he explores options to rebuild his political influence in Kwara.

Two senior political figures described the engagements as part of a broader strategic recalibration following two electoral losses.

“We may see a situation where both APC and PDP align with Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027,” one source said. “At that point, the real contest will shift to the quality of candidates each party fields at the state level.”