The Kwara State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Sunday Fagbemi, has publicly endorsed the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, as the most suitable candidate to succeed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. Fagbemi made the declaration on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, in Ilorin, the state capital.
Fagbemi Cites Danladi-Salihu's Leadership Record
Speaking to party supporters and journalists, Fagbemi highlighted Danladi-Salihu's two terms as Speaker, describing them as free of internal rancor and characterized by strong party loyalty. He noted that the Speaker, who assumed the role at age 33, has maintained a harmonious working relationship with the state executive arm throughout his tenure.
“That kind of uninterrupted, collegial service is not something to be taken lightly. It reflects genuine competence and the sort of institutional temperament required to lead a state,” Fagbemi said.
The APC chairman stressed that any successor to Governor Abdulrazaq must have a proven track record. He ruled out candidates who had previously held office without delivering results, stating that the next governor should not be “someone who has been tested and failed before.”
Recognizing Governor Abdulrazaq's Achievements
Fagbemi also praised the developmental strides of the outgoing governor, citing road rehabilitation in communities that had long suffered dilapidated infrastructure, as well as upgrades to schools and health centers across the state's 193 wards. He argued that sustaining these gains required a successor who had already demonstrated the capacity to govern effectively.
“We cannot afford to let the progress we have made under Governor Abdulrazaq be reversed. Speaker Danladi-Salihu has shown he can build on this foundation,” Fagbemi added.
APC's Dominance in Kwara Reaffirmed
Beyond the individual endorsement, Fagbemi used the occasion to reaffirm the APC's stronghold in Kwara State. He credited both the state and federal governments for driving visible change and said the party's grip on the state remains firm. The endorsement framed Danladi-Salihu's potential candidacy as a continuation of a broader project, with the Speaker serving as a bridge between the current administration's achievements and the state's future.
Danladi-Salihu's Emergence as APC Governorship Candidate
Earlier reports confirmed that Danladi-Salihu emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election after winning the party's primary held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Banquet Hall in Ilorin. He polled 94,990 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, who secured 41,700 votes. Another aspirant, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, garnered 22,118 votes.
The primary was conducted peacefully, with delegates from across the state's 16 local government areas participating. Danladi-Salihu's victory was widely seen as a consolidation of support from the party's hierarchy and grassroots members.
