The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly defended the emergence of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, insisting that he possesses the experience and competence needed to take over from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Speaking during an appearance on TVC’s Breakfast Show, the state APC chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, described Danladi-Salihu as a tested leader whose years in public office have prepared him for the state’s top job.
Fagbemi said the lawmaker’s emergence followed a transparent and credible primary election conducted by the ruling party.
“A free and fair primary election was conducted in Kwara State and a winner emerged,” he stated.
The APC chairman highlighted Danladi-Salihu’s leadership record, particularly his time as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, where he served for two consecutive terms.
According to him, Danladi-Salihu’s ability to work harmoniously with other arms of government while maintaining stability in the legislature speaks volumes about his leadership capacity.
“When you talk about competence, this is someone who served as Speaker for two terms without rancour. There was cooperation and synergy with other arms of government. That alone tells you a lot about his capability,” Fagbemi said.
Danladi-Salihu, who currently represents Ilorin East/Ilorin South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, recently secured the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reacting to criticisms that have trailed the outcome of the primary, Fagbemi dismissed claims that Danladi-Salihu’s candidacy was linked to an alleged third-term agenda for Governor AbdulRazaq.
“Are they saying Danladi is not a Kwaran? Is he the one seeking a third term? If another person had emerged, critics would still have found something else to complain about,” he said.
He added that the political atmosphere in Kwara had evolved beyond the era of political godfatherism and surrogate leadership.
“This is not the Kwara of old where someone would simply install a proxy in office,” he stated.
Fagbemi also rejected suggestions that some influential stakeholders had been pushed aside within the APC, maintaining that the party remained united and continued to gain strength across the state.
According to him, several grassroots politicians from opposition parties have joined the APC in recent years, boosting the party’s structure ahead of future elections.
“Many of those people left before the 2023 election and we still won. When they returned, we welcomed them back. We are not losing members; we are gaining more supporters across the state,” he said.
Expressing confidence ahead of the 2027 governorship contest, the APC chairman pointed to the AbdulRazaq administration’s achievements in healthcare, education, infrastructure and security as major selling points for the party.
He claimed that functional healthcare centres can now be found across all 193 wards in the state, while major towns and communities are witnessing significant infrastructural development.
“There is visible transformation across Kwara. From healthcare to roads, schools and other critical projects, the achievements are there for everyone to see,” he said.
Fagbemi further declared that the APC would campaign based on its performance in government and expressed confidence that Danladi-Salihu would secure overwhelming support from voters.
“I recently visited Kwara North and I can confidently say that when the time comes, we will defeat the opposition by a very wide margin,” he added.
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