*moves to Strengthen Party Unity
From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has formally presented its Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), nomination form to the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, following the ratification of his emergence by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The presentation in Ilorin, drew party elders, stakeholders, lawmakers, cabinet members, women groups and hundreds of supporters, who applauded the official unveiling of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly as the APC standard-bearer.
Speaking during the ceremony, the APC Chairman in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the presentation of the nomination form marked the completion of the party’s internal processes after the National Working Committee concluded reviews of petitions arising from the primary elections.
According to him, the party had earlier conducted primaries for various elective positions but delayed the official announcement of candidates pending the outcome of appeals.
“Before now, we have conducted the primaries. There have been winners for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, the Senate and the Gubernatorial, but the National Headquarters of our party said we should not announce.
“The National Working Committee of our party has gone through all the processes, especially those that have complaints. People who had complaints have ventilated their complaints to the Appeal Committee who have equally gone through them. So, NWC has come out with the candidates. It is now our duty to give them the forms to fill so that they will be uploaded to the INEC portal.
“The one that we are unveiling here today is that of the gubernatorial candidate, who is Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi. So, on behalf of the National Chairman of our party, I am handing this form over to our candidate.”
Receiving the nomination form, Danladi expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the leadership of the APC at both the national and state levels for the confidence reposed in him.
He also commended the other aspirants who contested the party’s governorship primary, assuring them that his emergence would not divide the party but instead strengthen its unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“There are reconciliations going on already as is usual with party primaries. Sixteen of us who contested know that a winner must emerge and a winner has emerged and it is now left for us to carry everyone along and we will definitely do that,” Danladi said.
Reaffirming his commitment to fostering unity within the party, the APC governorship candidate declared: “By His grace, APC is one family, and we are going to be more united and much stronger. We thank all Kwarans. We will not disappoint you and God Almighty will guide us.”
The ceremony ended with party faithful expressing optimism about the APC’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election, as leaders urged members to remain united and work together for the party’s success.
