Senator Saliu Mustapha has publicly declared that he will defeat Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the Kwara Central senatorial election, stating that the outcome will be decided before 1 pm on January 16, 2027. The declaration was made during an appearance on Channels TV's Politics Today programme, in a segment titled "Conversation with Sen. Saliu Mustapha," which focused on the deepening crisis within the Kwara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The interview was shared on X on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Direct Challenge to Governor AbdulRazaq
Mustapha's comments represent one of the most direct challenges yet to Governor AbdulRazaq's political standing in Kwara State. Rather than speaking in general terms about the 2027 elections, the senator named the governor specifically and set a deadline for his expected victory, a level of confidence that signals the contest between the two men is no longer a background rivalry.
"I will beat Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the Kwara Central senatorial election before 1 PM," Mustapha said. The remark came in the context of a wider discussion about internal divisions within the Kwara APC, where loyalties between the governor's camp and other influential party figures have increasingly come under strain ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwara APC Tensions Intensify
Kwara State has long been a significant battleground within the APC, with competing political structures vying for dominance since the party swept to power in the state in 2019. The friction between senior party figures has grown more visible in recent months, and Mustapha's televised comments are likely to sharpen those divisions further.
Governor AbdulRazaq had not publicly responded to Mustapha's declaration at the time of this report. The senator's remarks signal a direct political confrontation between two of Kwara State's most prominent APC figures, a development that could reshape the state's political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Defection to PDP and Political Implications
Recall that Senator Mustapha left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting he has not abandoned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally ahead of the 2027 election. Mustapha said the G-15 and the elder caucus feel alienated by how Kwara Governor AbdulRazaq has managed the APC in the state. The defection adds fresh pressure on APC leadership in Kwara ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senator Mustapha picked the PDP senatorial nomination form on Friday, hours after announcing his resignation from the APC. Mustapha's move sets up a direct 2027 electoral clash with Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who holds the APC ticket for the same district. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and opposition stakeholders were reportedly involved in courting the senator to the PDP.
