Twelve executive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, have resigned from their positions and withdrawn their party membership, days after Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, defected from the ruling party.
Resignations Follow Senator's Defection
The departures began on Friday, August 20, when ward chairman Aliyu Abdulhakeem and secretary Abdulwaheed Adanla each sent separate resignation letters to the Ilorin East LGA APC chairman, Habib Ajibola. Ten other ward executives then submitted a joint resignation letter on Saturday, completing the wave of exits from the ward.
In his resignation letter, Abdulhakeem said he was stepping down "for personal reasons best known to me," while thanking party members, elders and stakeholders for their support. Adanla, in a separate letter dated Friday, August 20, pledged to return all party documents, records, stamps and other property in his possession to the appropriate authorities.
Details of the Resigning Officials
The ten officials who resigned jointly include Treasurer Olayinka Odunlami, Auditor-General Kelani Kola Saheed, Legal Adviser Bube Lukman, Assistant Auditor-General Adebayo Kazeem, Assistant Treasurer Muhammed Yunus Idowu, Assistant Youth Leader Ganiyu Taiye Ofide, Assistant Women Leader Alhaja Iyalanki, Assistant Secretary Muhammed Abdullahi O., Assistant Financial Secretary Olabowu Tosho, and Assistant Organising Secretary Umar Abubakar Hajj.
"We, the concerned executive members of Gambari Ward 1 hereby formally resign from our posts as well as membership of the All Progressives Congress," the ten officials said in their joint letter. "The decision was reached after careful consideration for the best interest of our beloved ward. We thank the party for the platform given to serve."
Mustapha's Move and the Path to 2027
The twelve resignations followed Mustapha's announcement on Thursday that he was leaving the APC. His resignation letter, dated August 14 and addressed to the Gambari Ward 1 chairman, cited recent developments within the Kwara APC and concerns about the party's leadership in the state. He subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and obtained the party's ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
The departing ward executives said they intend to follow Mustapha into the PDP and align with what they described as an emerging "rainbow coalition" ahead of the 2027 polls. It remains unclear whether other APC officials and supporters across Kwara Central will also exit the party in the coming weeks, as the 2027 contest for the senatorial seat takes shape.
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Senator Saliu Mustapha claimed that former Senate President Bukola Saraki is working to secure President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027, even as Saraki leads the PDP in Kwara State. Mustapha made the claim after he defected from the APC to the PDP and secured the party's ticket for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.
