‘Mustapha’s exit won’t affect us’ — Kwara central APC stakeholders rally behind AbdulRazaq, Danladi

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central Senatorial District have dismissed the defection of Senator Saliu Mustapha to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that his exit would not affect the party’s strength or support base in the district.

The stakeholders, who reaffirmed their loyalty to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, said they remained committed to the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The declaration was made separately by Hon. Ibrahim Sulyman Salah, councillor representing Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East Local Government Area, and Baba Gobir Abdullahi, chairman of Gambari Ward II and chairman of APC ward chairmen across the 193 wards in Kwara State.

Mustapha is from Gambari Ward 1.

Speaking on behalf of stakeholders from Gambari Ward 1 and other communities across Kwara Central, Salah said their continued support for AbdulRazaq was based on what they described as the visible impact of the governor’s administration across the state.

“We are not here because of politics. We are here because the dividends of democracy are now visible, measurable, and touching the lives of ordinary Kwarans,” he said.

Salah cited road construction, urban renewal, healthcare, education and economic empowerment as areas where the administration had, in their assessment, recorded significant progress.

He disclosed that 113.57 kilometres of roads had been completed in Kwara Central, while another 65.5 kilometres were ongoing.

According to him, the projects and empowerment initiatives had contributed to supporting businesses, youths and vulnerable residents across the senatorial district.

Salah subsequently passed a vote of confidence in AbdulRazaq, urging the governor to sustain the pace of development by completing ongoing projects and expanding empowerment programmes targeting youths and women.

The stakeholders also pledged to support AbdulRazaq, Danladi and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

In a separate statement, Gobir reaffirmed the loyalty of the 51 APC ward chairmen in Kwara Central to AbdulRazaq, insisting that Mustapha’s defection would not weaken the party.

He described the ward chairmen as the “engine room” of the APC in Kwara Central, noting that they remained responsible for grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement across the senatorial district.

Gobir also rejected the suggestion that Mustapha’s 2023 electoral victory was achieved through personal effort, arguing that it was the result of the collective support of the APC, Governor AbdulRazaq and grassroots members.

He described the senator’s defection as a personal political decision, insisting that it did not represent the position or aspirations of voters across Kwara Central.

Gobir further urged residents of the senatorial district not to be distracted by what he described as the “political tourism” of individuals who prioritise personal interests over the collective progress of the people.

“Do not be distracted by the political tourism of individuals who prioritise their personal comfort over your collective progress. The APC remains the only party that puts the welfare of the ordinary Kwarans at the centre of governance,” he said.

The APC leaders maintained that the party’s grassroots structure remained intact across Kwara Central and urged supporters to remain focused on the development projects and programmes of the AbdulRazaq administration as the 2027 elections approach.