Kwara Senator Mustapha Secures PDP Ticket After APC Exit

Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has officially secured the Peoples Democratic Party ticket for his senatorial district, marking a swift political realignment just hours after his resignation from the All Progressives Congress. The transition, confirmed on Friday, August 21, 2026, sets the stage for a high-stakes contest in the 2027 general elections against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is the APC candidate for the same seat.

Mustapha, also known as the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate, announced his departure from the ruling party in a letter dated Thursday, August 20, 2026. He cited recent developments within the Kwara State chapter of the APC as the primary reason for his decision. In his statement, Mustapha emphasized that the move followed weeks of consultations with stakeholders, supporters, and constituents. He framed his exit as a principled choice, stating that politics should be driven by the interests of the people and that when a political platform no longer aligns with those convictions, "the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course."

The senator expressed gratitude to the APC leadership, including President Bola Tinubu, for the...