Kwara senator Saliu Mustapha quits APC after failing to secure governorship, senate tickets

Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mustapha announced his resignation in a letter dated August 14 and addressed to the APC chairman of Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area. He said the decision followed consultations with constituents, supporters and political stakeholders.  

The senator had contested the APC governorship primary in May but lost to the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu. He subsequently failed to secure the APC ticket for Kwara Central, which went to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.  

Mustapha criticised the direction of the APC leadership in Kwara, saying recent developments had departed from the principles of unity and internal democracy. He, however, said his resignation would not diminish his commitment to the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria.  

He has not yet announced which political party he intends to join, although reports have linked him with the PDP.