Cracks Deepen in Kwara APC as PDP Drafts Saraki to Court Aggrieved Members Ahead of 2027

Political permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections intensified on Thursday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State moved to capitalise on the growing discontent within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), mandating former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to begin talks with aggrieved members of the party.

The move came amid an escalating internal crisis in the APC, with a coalition of dissatisfied party leaders under the Oto Ge Progressives platform accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of imposing a succession agenda and eroding internal democracy.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ilorin, spokesperson of the coalition and former Senator, Yahaya Oloriegbe, alleged that the governor’s leadership had sidelined many stakeholders and deepened divisions within the party.

He warned that unless the APC national leadership intervenes, the lingering crisis could undermine the party’s electoral prospects in the 2027 general elections.

According to Oloriegbe, the Oto Ge Progressives was formed to protect the principles of fairness, inclusiveness and transparency, alleging that many party faithful had been excluded from critical political decisions.

He also claimed that members of the coalition had been subjected to intimidation and pressure to support what he described as a predetermined succession arrangement.

The coalition insisted that candidates for elective offices must emerge through transparent and democratic processes rather than through the influence of any individual, urging the APC leadership to urgently address the grievances before they escalate.

Seizing on the apparent cracks within the ruling party, PDP stakeholders at a two-day strategic meeting in Ilorin authorised Saraki to commence consultations with members of the APC’s G15 bloc and other political groups as part of efforts to expand the party’s support base ahead of the next general elections.

The decision was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the Kwara PDP Chairman, Adamu Bawa, and the State Secretary, Abdulrahman Kayode, following the meeting attended by party leaders, former political office holders, aspirants, women and youth representatives.

The stakeholders reaffirmed their confidence in Saraki’s leadership and urged party members to remain united, stressing that internal cohesion would be vital should aggrieved APC members eventually join the PDP.

Adding to the growing political intrigue, Saraki was later seen at the Ilorin International Airport alongside members of the Oto Ge Progressives, a development that has heightened speculation over possible defections and a major political realignment in Kwara ahead of the 2027 elections.

The unfolding developments signal an early scramble for political advantage in the state, with both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP positioning themselves for what is expected to be a fiercely contested electoral battle in 2027.