Salihu Danladi clinches Kwara APC governorship ticket

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after winning the party’s primary election with 94,990 votes.

Danladi defeated other aspirants by a wide margin in the exercise conducted across the state’s three senatorial districts. His closest challenger, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, polled 41,700 votes, while Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa secured 22,118 votes.

The result of the primary election was announced on Friday evening by the chairman of the Kwara State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, in Ilorin.

Other aspirants who participated in the contest included Engr. Femi Sani, who scored 5,519 votes; Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, 3,920 votes; Dele Belgore, 3,411 votes; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2,434 votes; Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, 1,722 votes; Mohamed Bio, 1,122 votes; and Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, who polled 1,099 votes.

Party leaders, stakeholders and members reportedly turned out in large numbers across the state to participate in the primary election, with Danladi maintaining a strong lead in several LGAs.

Field reports indicated that the speaker enjoyed significant support in parts of Ilorin West and Ilorin East local government areas, including Alanamu, Ajikobi, Ojuekun, Adewole, Ibagun and Gambari, where party members were said to have voted massively in his favour.

In Kwara North Senatorial District, all five LGAs reportedly delivered overwhelming support for Danladi, while he also secured comfortable victories across Kwara Central and Kwara South senatorial districts.

Local government areas in the southern part of the state, including Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero and Ifelodun, were also said to have backed the speaker, reinforcing his emergence as the APC governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.