APC Delays Guber Primary in Kwara After Eight Candidates Withdraw Their Candidacies

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the Kwara State governorship primary that was scheduled for Thursday to Friday.

State party chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi confirmed the change to journalists in Ilorin, saying his office had been notified by the national leadership.

He added, “we don’t have details of the cancellation other than the fact that the team from national office came and instructed that the election holds tomorrow (Friday).”

In a statement from the state party’s publicity secretary, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Olawale Babatunde, it was announced that the APC Governorship Primary originally set for Thursday, 21 May 2026, has been postponed. The new date is Friday, 22 May 2026. “All aspirants, and party faithfuls are advised to take note,” the statement read. “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

Just hours before the rescheduled primary began, eight additional aspirants withdrew from the race. They subsequently endorsed the state governor’s chosen candidate, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, leaving the contest among Senator Saliu Mustapha, Alhaji Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB), Engineer Femi Sanni (Araba), and Seriki.

The candidates who stepped down and pledged support for Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki include Dr. Salako Muyideen Oluwatoyin, Captain Ahmad Mahmoud, Professor Wale Sulaiman, Dr. Mohammed Omar Bio, Dr. Toyin Alabi, Hajia Aisha Ahman Patigi, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi.

Earlier, Senator Sadiq Umar and Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, director‑general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), had also announced their withdrawal from the race.

The withdrawals intensified tensions among supporters of the remaining aspirants.

Despite the postponement, the primaries turned into a lively affair, with supporters of Seriki, Mustapha, Sanni, and BOB gathering in large numbers at various wards to demonstrate their backing. From Magaji Are ward 11 to Alanamu, Gambari ward 11, and Adewole ward in Ilorin East and West local governments, party members treated the contest as a family affair, displaying posters of their preferred aspirants while singing praise songs.

In Gambari ward 11, within Ilorin East local government in Kwara Central senatorial district, many Hausa‑speaking visually impaired participants arrived at Karumo, the primary venue, as early as 8 am to exercise their civic right. The event began at 12 noon across the state.

At the venue, Sokoto‑State‑born visually impaired Abubakar Gobir Sokoto told reporters that he and his colleagues were there to exercise their civic right as loyal party members.

Another visually impaired participant, Rufai Yusuf, also from Sokoto State, declared, “we are with our families to pay goodness with goodness, we are all here for Yahaya Seriki.”

In Adewole and Alananmu wards in Ilorin West, the chant “sai Yahaya” echoed from supporters.

Reports from Kwara South senatorial district indicated that party members from the seven local governments in the district lined up for former state party chairman Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, a front‑line governorship aspirant. THISDAY checks revealed that supporters queued behind Bolarinwa in several wards across the district, signaling a strong display of support ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

In Oyun Local Government Area, APC faithful from Erin‑Ile, Ipee, Iraa, Ijagbo, Ilemona, and other wards reportedly turned out in hundreds to participate in the exercise.

Residents and party supporters gathered early at designated voting centres as the exercise commenced under the supervision of party officials and security operatives.

The heavy turnout in Kwara South is being interpreted by APC members as a strong indication of Bolarinwa’s growing acceptance within the ruling party structure in the district.