By Elizabeth Williams

Leaders, stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara Central Senatorial District, Monday, threw their weight behind Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in the ongoing senatorial primary election in the zone.

Governor AbdulRazaq is contesting the APC ticket against the incumbent Senator, Saliu Mustapha, despite earlier reports that the governor was not in the race.

However, a fresh APC document confirmed that the governor had obtained and submitted his nomination form and was duly cleared for the contest.

The direct primary election, held across the four local government areas of the senatorial district, witnessed impressive turnout of party loyalists and supporters.

Speaking at Ibagun Ward in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, said party leaders and members remained united behind the governor and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We are fully in support of Governor AbdulRazaq for the senatorial election. Ibagun Ward is solidly behind the APC and we will deliver 100 per cent for the party in 2027,” he said.

Also speaking, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo, described the exercise as a straight contest between Governor AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha.

He said the turnout reflected the popularity and acceptance of the governor among party members in the district.

“What we are having today is a senatorial primary between our leader, Governor AbdulRazaq, and the sitting senator, Saliu Mustapha. The turnout clearly shows who holds the structure and support base in the district,” Olododo said.

Similarly, former Chairman of Ilorin East Local Government, Alhaji Usman Bibire-Ajape, said the governor deserved the support of party faithful because of his performance in office.

“Governor AbdulRazaq has done well for Kwara State and deserves the massive support he is getting from party members,” he stated.

A House of Representatives aspirant, Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo, said the governor secured overwhelming support in Ibagun Ward, stressing that the outcome reaffirmed AbdulRazaq’s dominance within the APC structure in Kwara Central.

At Ubandawaki Ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area, party chieftain and former non-executive director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Mohammed Ghali Alaaya, commended party members for their loyalty to the governor.

Also, at Badari Ward in Ilorin West, women and youths turned out in large numbers for the exercise, with results from the ward showing Governor AbdulRazaq polling all the votes cast, while Senator Mustapha reportedly scored zero.

The exercise was peaceful and orderly across the district, with party members expressing confidence in the APC leadership and the candidacy of Governor AbdulRazaq for the Kwara Central Senate seat.