Fresh divisions have surfaced in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State as the state’s three senators have called for a review of the party’s recent primaries and the creation of a reconciliation committee to address internal grievances.
The lawmakers, operating under the Kwara APC Senate Caucus, expressed concern over rising disunity within the party following the recently concluded governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly primaries.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday and jointly signed by Senators Saliu Mustapha, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, and Sadiq Umar, the caucus warned that the party was facing a critical moment requiring urgent internal intervention.
They alleged that exclusion of key stakeholders from decision-making processes had weakened cohesion within the party, creating grievances where unity was expected.
The senators also criticized the conduct of the recent primaries, describing them as controversial and inconsistent with principles of fairness and merit. They particularly pointed to the screening exercise for State House of Assembly aspirants, where a large number of sitting lawmakers were initially disqualified.
According to them, about 70% of incumbents failed to scale the screening process, a situation they said undermines institutional experience and party stability.
To address the crisis, the lawmakers called on the state leadership and the National Working Committee of the APC to establish a high-level reconciliation committee with a 30-day mandate to reconcile aggrieved members and restore internal harmony.
They further urged a review of screening outcomes affecting experienced aspirants across various levels of representation, insisting that party structures should reflect competence and service.
Beyond internal disputes, the caucus also raised concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of the state, noting that rural banditry and kidnappings are disrupting agriculture and contributing to rising food inflation.
They recommended a full review of party structures across all 193 wards and 16 local government areas in Kwara State to strengthen grassroots engagement, discipline, and youth protection from criminal influence.
Reaffirming their commitment to unity, the senators stressed that the party must prioritise collective interest over factional struggles as it prepares for future elections.
The intervention comes amid ongoing tensions within the APC in Kwara State following disputes over the primaries, including protests over large-scale disqualifications of aspirants and controversy surrounding the emergence of Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate, which has been contested by rival aspirants and party elders.
