Fresh tensions are rocking the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following controversies surrounding the recently concluded ward and local government congresses.
The dispute is most pronounced in Ekiti Local Government Area, the home base of the state party chairman, where party elders have rejected the outcome of the exercise.
At a press conference in Ilorin, prominent stakeholders from the area, including Dele Abiodun and Bello Olaiya, accused party officials of imposing candidates and sidelining loyal members, warning that such actions could erode trust and weaken the party ahead of future elections.
The aggrieved members say the emergence of unfamiliar names as executives raises serious concerns about internal democracy and grassroots participation.
They called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to intervene, alleging that some individuals are invoking his name to influence party structures, despite his known stance against imposition.
Responding to the allegations, APC State Chairman Sunday Fagbemi, who spoke via telephone, denied any involvement by the state leadership, maintaining that the congresses were conducted by officials from the party’s national headquarters and insisting he is unaware of the grievances raised.
Meanwhile, the situation has taken a broader political turn as a coalition of Kwara Christian stakeholders, led by Reverend Jonathan Adegboye, is pushing for a power shift ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group argues that it is time for a Christian governor to emerge in the interest of equity, inclusion and balanced representation in the state’s leadership.
With competing interests and rising agitation across party lines and interest groups, political activities in Kwara are gaining momentum as stakeholders begin early positioning for 2027.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
