Kwara APC crisis deepens as 11 more ward executives dump party to join Saliu Mustapha in PDP

The political realignment in Kwara State has intensified as 11 additional ward executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area, have resigned from the party following Senator Saliu Mustapha’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The executives, who announced their resignation in a letter obtained by The Informant247, said they were stepping down from their respective positions as well as their membership of the APC, citing the best interest of their ward as the reason for their decision.

The letter, signed by 10 concerned executive members, read in part: “We, the Concerned Executive members of Gambari Ward 1 hereby formally resign from our posts as well as membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The decision was reached after careful consideration for the best interest of our beloved ward. We thank the party for the platform given to serve.” In a separate resignation letter Abubakar Mahmood also resigned as organising secretary.

Those who resigned include Olayinka Odunlami, Treasurer; Kelani Kola Saheed, Auditor General; Bube Lukman, Legal Adviser; Adebayo Kazeem, Assistant Auditor General; Muhammed Yunus Idowu, Assistant Treasurer; Ganiyu Taiye Ofide, Assistant Youth Leader; Alhaja Iyalanki, Assistant Women Leader; Muhammed Abdullahi O., Assistant Secretary; Olabowu Tosho, Assistant Financial Secretary; and Umar Abubakar Hajj, Assistant Organising Secretary.

The latest resignations come a day after the Chairman and Secretary of Gambari Ward 1, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulhakeem and Abdulwaheed Dauda Adanla, respectively, also resigned from the APC in separate letters addressed to the party’s Chairman in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Comrade Habib Lawal Ajibola.

The 10 executives said their decision would see them join Senator Mustapha in the PDP and the emerging “rainbow coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections, further signalling a significant shift in the political structure of Gambari Ward 1.