After hours of tension, uncertainty and intense political drama, Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu has officially emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election in Kwara State.
The much-anticipated result was formally announced at the State Banquet Hall in Ilorin by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who chaired the APC Governorship Primary Election Supervisory Committee.
The declaration came after prolonged delays in the final collation process, fueling anxiety and widespread speculation among party faithful, political stakeholders and supporters gathered across the state capital.
Danladi-Salihu secured a sweeping victory after polling over 94,000 votes to defeat Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who garnered 41,700 votes, while former APC State Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa finished third with 22,118 votes.
Earlier before the final announcement, tension had mounted at the collation centre as delegates, party officials, and supporters awaited the official declaration following conflicting projections and intense political maneuvering within the party.
Senator Obanikoro, who arrived at the banquet hall amid tight security and heightened anticipation, later confirmed the final figures after the completion of the collation exercise.
Other aspirants who participated in the keenly contested primary recorded the following votes:
Femi Sanni — 5,990 votes
Ibrahim Oloriegbe — 3,910 votes
Ali Ahmad Belgore — 3,411 votes
Bio Ibrahim — 1,122 votes
Audu Mahmood — 1,462 votes
The emergence of Danladi-Salihu is widely seen as the climax of a dramatic political contest that witnessed shifting alliances, strategic consultations, and last-minute power plays within the APC hierarchy in Kwara State.
Political observers believe the outcome further consolidates the influence of Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak within the party structure, especially following reports of his eventual backing of the Speaker after an earlier endorsement of Yahaya Seriki.
Celebrations erupted in parts of Ilorin and several local government areas in Kwara North Senatorial District shortly after the announcement, as supporters of Danladi-Salihu hailed the victory as a triumph for continuity, stability, and inclusive governance.
Attention is now expected to shift toward the 2027 general election as the APC prepares to face opposition parties in what analysts predict could become another defining political battle in Kwara State.
