Ten governorship aspirants from the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State have formally petitioned President Bola Tinubu, warning that the party's leadership structure in the state is on the verge of collapse. The aspirants, who are all seeking the APC ticket for the 2027 governorship election, submitted their concerns in a letter addressed directly to the President, citing deepening internal disputes that have paralysed party operations across the state.
Letter Details and Core Grievances
The petition, signed by all ten aspirants, was delivered to President Tinubu's office in Abuja. According to the letter, the APC in Kwara State has been unable to function effectively due to unresolved leadership disputes that have persisted for several months. The aspirants specifically highlighted the absence of a properly constituted state executive committee as the primary obstacle preventing the party from mounting a credible campaign ahead of the 2027 governorship poll.
Write Tinubu Hammed Shittu, identified as one of the lead signatories, outlined in the petition that party loyalists have been left without clear direction. The aspirants argued that without a functional state chapter, the APC risks losing ground to opposition parties that have already begun organising at the grassroots level in multiple local government areas across the state.
Background of the Kwara APC Crisis
The leadership vacuum in Kwara APC traces back to a series of internal disagreements that came to a head following the last general elections. Party sources familiar with the situation confirmed that factional disputes between key stakeholders have prevented the holding of congresses needed to elect new officers. Several ward and local government chairmen have continued to hold over in acting capacities, creating uncertainty about their authority and mandate.
Kwara State has historically been a significant political battleground in Nigeria's North Central region. The APC held power in the state until recently, and party members view the 2027 election as a critical opportunity to reclaim the governorship seat. However, the current internal crisis has raised doubts about the party's readiness to mount an effective challenge against the incumbent administration.
Aspirants Warn of Electoral Consequences
The ten governorship hopefuls made clear in their petition that the party leadership crisis poses an existential threat to their electoral prospects. They pointed out that rival political parties have taken advantage of the APC's disarray to recruit former loyalists and establish structures in areas traditionally considered APC strongholds. The letter urged President Tinubu to intervene urgently and appoint an interim leadership framework that would allow the party to prepare properly for the upcoming elections.
If the crisis remains unresolved, the aspirants warned that APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections could find themselves without the party machinery needed to campaign effectively. This could translate directly into lost votes, particularly in the state's rural communities where party structures remain the primary vehicle for voter mobilisation.
President Tinubu's Position
As of the time of reporting, President Tinubu had not issued a public response to the petition. The Presidency is understood to be reviewing the concerns raised by the aspirants. Political analysts suggest the President faces a delicate balancing act, given his own political roots in the South West and the need to avoid being seen as interfering in the internal affairs of a state chapter where his influence is limited.
The APC National Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body between National Conventions, may be called upon to mediate. However, party insiders indicated that any intervention would need to carefully consider the interests of existing power centres in Kwara to avoid exacerbating the current tensions.
What Happens Next
The petition has intensified pressure on the APC hierarchy to act. Party members and political observers in Kwara are watching closely to see whether Abuja intervenes and, if so, in what form. A failure to resolve the crisis quickly could embolden opposition parties and reshape the electoral map in the state ahead of 2027.
Citizens in Kwara State, particularly those who have supported the APC in previous elections, expressed concern about the paralysis. Many rely on party structures for information about government programmes and community initiatives. The longer the leadership vacuum persists, the greater the risk that grassroots support will erode without any coordinated effort to maintain it.
Party officials are expected to convene emergency talks within the coming weeks. The outcome of those discussions will determine whether the APC can present a united front in Kwara State or whether the internal fractures will prove too deep to heal before the 2027 campaign season begins in earnest.
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Political analysts suggest the President faces a delicate balancing act, given his own political roots in the South West and the need to avoid being seen as interfering in the internal affairs of a state chapter where his influence is limited.The APC National Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body between National Conventions, may be called upon to mediate. The Presidency is understood to be reviewing the concerns raised by the aspirants.
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