May 19, (THEWILL) — Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has confirmed an earlier report by THEWILL on the growing succession crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), formally endorsing businessman and political greenhorn, Ambassador AbdulFatai Yahaya Seriki, as his preferred successor ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primaries.
The endorsement, announced in a personally signed statement on Tuesday, has intensified political tension within the Kwara APC, where disagreements over the emergence of a consensus governorship candidate have continued to expose deepening cracks among party stakeholders and aspirants.
THEWILL had earlier reported that the succession battle worsened after most of the 16 governorship aspirants boycotted a strategic meeting convened by Governor AbdulRazaq in Ilorin amid fears that the gathering was designed to impose a preferred candidate on the party.
Party insiders disclosed that only Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) attended the controversial meeting, forcing the session to be postponed as suspicion mounted among aspirants over alleged plans for an endorsement arrangement.
The crisis reportedly unsettled influential APC leaders in Abuja and Kwara, especially following disagreements over which aspirant possesses the political strength and grassroots structure capable of retaining Kwara for the ruling party in 2027.
However, in his statement on Tuesday, AbdulRazaq openly endorsed Seriki after what he described as “extensive consultations with party structures and leadership.”
“Following extensive consultations with party structures and leadership, I am pleased to endorse Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki (MFR) as my preferred successor under the platform of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the governor stated.
AbdulRazaq described Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” insisting that the businessman possesses the goodwill and leadership qualities required to sustain the achievements of the APC administration in the state.
“Ambassador Yahaya Seriki has been a great political mobiliser with profound investments in and extensive goodwill among the people of Kwara State. I have no doubt about his capacity and that his choice is appropriate for the people of our state at this time,” he added.
The endorsement has, however, generated fresh controversy within the party, with critics questioning Seriki’s political experience and electoral viability.
Party sources noted that Seriki, despite his growing influence within APC circles, has neither contested for elective office nor held any major political appointment before his sudden emergence in the governorship succession calculations.
THEWILL gathered that the governor’s decision followed weeks of intense consultations involving stakeholders in Ilorin, Abuja, and Lagos.
Sources familiar with the discussions claimed that Governor AbdulRazaq had initially considered the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, from Kwara North Senatorial District, as part of efforts to produce a successor from the zone.
However, concerns over the district’s limited voting strength reportedly weakened support for the proposal.
Attention later shifted to former Kwara APC Chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, from Kwara South Senatorial District, but sources said the governor opposed the move because of strained political relations with the former party chairman.
As consultations intensified, influential stakeholders were also said to have proposed Senator Saliu Mustapha from Kwara Central Senatorial District as a strong contender capable of confronting the resurging political influence of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Sources disclosed that some APC leaders believed Mustapha possessed the electoral strength and grassroots appeal required to neutralise the Peoples Democratic Party’s growing momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
However, AbdulRazaq reportedly declined support for Mustapha’s emergence, insisting instead on Seriki as his preferred candidate.
The governor, while acknowledging the growing tension within the APC, urged party members and leaders to unite behind Seriki for the sake of cohesion and continuity.
“While this does not in any way preclude all other aspirants from contesting in the primaries, I urge members and leaders to affirm the choice of Seriki as our candidate for cohesion, unity, and continuous success of the party,” he said.
AbdulRazaq also insisted that his endorsement should not be interpreted as a rejection of other aspirants seeking the APC governorship ticket.
“The choice of Amb. Yahaya Seriki is neither a disapproval of any of our eminently qualified aspirants nor a whimsical attempt to delegitimise the noble aspirations of our people,” he added.
The APC governorship aspirants include Senator Saliu Mustapha, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Mallam Yahaya Abdulfatai Seriki, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), Olufemi Sanni, Mohammed Omar Bio, Dr Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, Tajudeen Audu AbdulKadir, Dr Azeez Salako Muyideen, Ibrahim Mahmoud, Yetunde Musiliat Bello, Mahalia Aishatu Ahman-Pategi, and Professor Olawale Adeniyi Suleiman.
Despite the controversy surrounding the succession process, Governor AbdulRazaq commended all the governorship aspirants for their discipline and contributions to the party.
“Finally, I acknowledge and commend the statesmanship of our aspirants, all of whom have shown discipline and impressive capacity to build on the undeniable achievements of our administration over the last seven years for the good of the people of Kwara State,” he stated.
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