Stakeholders within Kwara State's All Progressives Congress have formally appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they describe as a deepening crisis threatening party unity in the state. The representatives submitted their request through official channels on Wednesday, citing irreconcilable differences between competing factions that have paralysed decision-making at the local level.
Petition Reaches the Presidency
The request for presidential mediation arrived at the Office of the Chief of Staff in Abuja. Kwara APC stakeholders, representing at least 15 local government areas, accused rival camp leaders of hijacking party structures for personal gain. Local media reported that the petition bore signatures from former chairmen, serving council bosses, and prominent ward coordinators who claim they have been systematically marginalised.
President Tinubu, who hails from Lagos State, currently exercises authority over the APC machinery at the national level. The presidency has not yet issued a formal response to the petition. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the president typically refers such disputes to the National Working Committee for initial assessment before personal involvement.
Factional Rivalry Roots
The current tensions trace back to the 2023 governorship transition when loyalists of the incumbent administration clashed with allies of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over control of the party structure. Since then, both camps have accused each other of manipulating ward congresses and hijacking the nomination process for local elections.
Three local government chairmen have publicly aligned themselves with the petitioners, breaking ranks with the state executive committee. These defections have heightened concerns that the party risks losing its majority in councils ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Party sources in Ilorin confirmed that at least two of the chairmen previously held positions under the Ahmed administration.
Accusations Fly Between Camps
The Ahmed camp has denied orchestrating any crisis, describing the petition as a smear campaign designed to discredit its members. Spokespersons for the group issued a statement on Thursday rejecting claims that they conspired against the current administration. Meanwhile, supporters of the state government have maintained that the former governor's allies are working to undermine progress made since 2019.
Neither side has provided documentary evidence to substantiate its claims. Independent observers note that such disputes are common in Nigerian politics when patronage networks fracture. Kwara has a history of intra-party conflicts dating back to the Second Republic, though APC-era divisions have proven particularly acrimonious.
Impact on Local Governance
Residents in affected local government areas report growing frustration with stalled development projects. Contractors working on road rehabilitation in Asa and Ifelodun LGAs say payments have been delayed due to disputes over which faction controls the council treasury. A local business owner in Offa said her community centre project remains incomplete after the council chairman who approved it was suspended.
The crisis has also disrupted community outreach programmes. At least two town hall meetings scheduled for October were cancelled when opposing factions threatened to hold rival events simultaneously. Community leaders in Oyun LGA expressed worry that the political infighting has diverted attention from flooding that damaged homes during the rainy season.
National Working Committee Response
The APC National Working Committee received a separate complaint from the state chapter last month. National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu tasked a committee headed by Deputy National Chairman Chief Barrister to investigate the claims. That committee was expected to submit its report by the end of November, according to party insiders.
However, the new petition addressed directly to President Tinubu suggests stakeholders have lost confidence in the NWC process. Some analysts interpret the move as an attempt to bypass the party structure entirely and escalate the matter to the highest political authority in the APC. The strategy carries risks, as previous attempts to use presidential intervention in state party disputes have sometimes worsened divisions.
Opposition Opportunity
Kwara opposition parties are closely monitoring developments. The Peoples Democratic Party, which has failed to win the governorship since 2011, could benefit if APC divisions persist through the 2027 cycle. PDP structures in the central senatorial district have reportedly begun outreach to disaffected APC members.
Labour Party operatives have also been observed in Ilorin, though the party lacks the organizational footprint to capitalize on APC weaknesses without significant investment. Political watchers note that Kwara's political landscape historically rewards coalition-building, meaning neither opposition party can mount a serious challenge without peeling away APC defectors.
What Comes Next
The presidency faces a delicate balancing act. Intervening too openly could embolden factional actors in other states to seek similar presidential involvement in local disputes. Remaining silent, however, risks allowing a key APC stronghold to fracture ahead of federal elections. Tinubu's political base in the Southwest has remained relatively stable, but the Kwara situation represents a test of his ability to manage party tensions beyond his home region.
Party members and ordinary citizens in Kwara will be watching for three developments: whether the presidency formally acknowledges the petition, whether the NWC investigation produces a binding resolution, and whether the current political paralysis begins affecting essential services delivery. The next few weeks will determine whether internal channels can resolve the dispute or whether the matter escalates to a full-blown crisis requiring higher-level mediation.
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That committee was expected to submit its report by the end of November, according to party insiders.However, the new petition addressed directly to President Tinubu suggests stakeholders have lost confidence in the NWC process. Some analysts interpret the move as an attempt to bypass the party structure entirely and escalate the matter to the highest political authority in the APC.
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