The political landscape in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 general elections may take a fresh turn as former Senate President Bukola Saraki may open discussions with aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress, popularly known as the G15 bloc, amid growing cracks within the ruling party.
The development came shortly after the G15, a coalition of aggrieved APC leaders and stakeholders, accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of undermining internal democracy and attempting to impose a succession arrangement ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The group, now operating under the banner of ‘Oto ge Progressives’, warned that the APC could face serious electoral consequences if the grievances of party members were not addressed.
The coalition said the APC’s unity and electoral fortunes were being threatened by what it described as AbdulRazaq’s alleged attempt to predetermine the party’s leadership succession and impose candidates.
This was disclosed at a world press conference held in Ilorin on Thursday, where prominent figures across the APC gathered under the banner of the ‘Oto ge Progressives’, a coalition comprising the G15, the Kwara Elders’ Group, governorship and other elective office aspirants, women and youth groups, and other stakeholders.
Among those present were Saliu Mustapha, Yahaya Oloriegbe, Sodiq Umar, Lola Ashiru, Ahmed Ahmed and Ajadi Makanjuola; former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN) and Chief Dele Belgore (SAN).
Others are Amb Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, who was represented; former Kwara APC Chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, who was also represented; alongside former public officeholders, party elders, women leaders, youth leaders and supporters drawn from across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Oloriegbe appealed to the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene before the crisis deepened.
He warned that ignoring the grievances of party members could weaken the APC’s electoral strength and create opportunities for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 polls.
Oloriegbe said, “Unless the present arrangement is reconsidered and the widespread dissatisfaction among party members genuinely addressed, the party’s unity and electoral success can no longer be assured.
“Indeed, we make bold to say that, with opposition parties already positioning themselves to capitalise on the present situation, the unity and electoral future of our party cannot be secured by disregarding widespread dissatisfaction or endorsing an arrangement that lacks legitimacy among its members,” he said.
He alleged that the governor was pursuing a succession agenda capable of undermining the consultative principles upon which the APC was built in Kwara.
According to him, the coalition emerged after many party leaders and members became increasingly dissatisfied with what they described as exclusion from decision-making processes and attempts to predetermine candidates for elective offices.
The former lawmaker maintained that the movement was driven by a desire to restore fairness, inclusiveness and internal democracy within the ruling party rather than by personal political ambition.
“We are aware of efforts to secure their allegiance through financial inducements, promises of political appointments and other personal advantages.
“We have also received disturbing accounts of threats, intimidation, blackmail, name-calling and undue pressure directed at those who refuse to abandon their convictions,” he alleged.
Oloriegbe further accused the governor of attempting to install unpopular candidates across the state as part of a wider political strategy.
He said, “Individuals who are neither known nor acceptable to their communities are being imposed as candidates across the state as part of a wider scheme to entrench a regime of godfatherism.
“The determination to resist and defeat this scheme was, and remains, the principal reason for the emergence of this movement.”
The coalition insisted that no individual should determine the future leadership of the APC in Kwara, stressing that party members must be allowed to freely elect candidates through a transparent and credible process.
“We reject every attempt to treat the APC as the personal property of any individual or to impose a predetermined political arrangement upon its members
“Kwara deserves a credible, transparent and democratic process, not one designed merely to endorse a preferred candidate through coercion, manipulation or exclusion,” Oloriegbe stated.
The group said it would continue to oppose the governor’s alleged succession agenda through lawful and democratic means while remaining open to all legitimate political options available to protect the interests of its members.
It also called on democratic institutions, civil society organisations and election observers to closely monitor political developments in the state, insisting that its campaign was aimed at defending democratic values within the party.
The coalition further accused AbdulRazaq of abandoning the ideals that inspired the 2019 “Otoge” political movement, which ended the Saraki political dynasty’s dominance in Kwara.
According to Oloriegbe, the governor, who benefited from the movement, had replaced its founding principles of consultation and inclusiveness with unilateral decision-making.
He maintained that the “Otoge” movement belonged to the people of Kwara and not to any individual, adding that its spirit remained alive among party members seeking political reforms.
The coalition urged its supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and committed despite what it described as sustained political pressure, insisting that no amount of intimidation or inducement could suppress the demand for internal democracy.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has directed its leader and former Senate President, Saraki, to begin engagements with members of the APC’s G15 bloc and other political parties as part of efforts to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day stakeholders’ meeting held between August 5 and 6 at Saraki’s residence in the Government Reserved Area, Ilorin.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the state PDP Chairman, Adamu Bawa, and the State Secretary, Abdulrahman Kayode.
The meeting was attended by stakeholders from Kwara Central, Kwara North and Kwara South Senatorial Districts, including former and serving public office holders, party executives, candidates, aspirants, elders, women and youth leaders.
According to the communiqué, the stakeholders expressed satisfaction that the PDP remained united after reviewing developments within the party.
“The stakeholders mandated Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki to proceed with engagements with members of the Kwara APC’s G15 and other political parties, to further strengthen the PDP and expand its base ahead of future elections,” the communiqué stated.
The stakeholders also called on party leaders, aspirants and candidates to place the collective interest of the PDP above individual ambitions ahead of the next general elections.
They resolved that all leaders, aspirants and candidates should set aside personal ambitions in the interest of the party, stressing that unity, sacrifice and collective commitment would be crucial to the PDP’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué noted that such unity would become even more important should the proposed admission of members of the APC’s G15 into the PDP materialise.
“Participants observed that the need for unity would become even more critical if the proposed admission of members of the APC’s G15 into the PDP is eventually implemented.
“They passed a vote of confidence on Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki in recognition of what they described as his consistent leadership, political experience and commitment to the PDP and the people of Kwara State,” the communiqué noted.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the PDP and pledged to work together under the leadership of Bukola Saraki to reposition the party for victory in future elections.
Also on Thursday, Saraki and members of the Oto Ge Progressives had a chance encounter at the Ilorin International Airport, fuelling speculations about possible political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Members of the APC faction were sighted with Saraki in a viral video, a development that came hours after the Kwara PDP authorised the former Senate President to begin engagements with aggrieved APC stakeholders, including the G15 bloc.
