Elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have declared the party’s governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, unelectable ahead of the 2027 governorship election, warning that retaining him as the party’s flagbearer could hand victory to the opposition.

The elders, under the aegis of the APC Elders’ Caucus, therefore appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the party to urgently revisit the outcome of the recently concluded governorship primary in the state and provide an alternative candidate capable of leading the APC to victory.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Monday, the leader of the caucus, Chief James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, JP, said the concerns being raised were borne out of genuine fears for the future of the party in Kwara State.

According to him, contrary to the impression being projected by some interests within and outside the state, Danladi does not enjoy the level of popularity and acceptance required to win a highly competitive governorship election.

“We urge the national leadership of our party and Mr. President to engage more broadly with critical stakeholders across the state and consider the long-term health, stability and sustainability of the APC above all other considerations,” Ayenioye said.

“We are constrained to observe that much of what has been presented regarding the popularity and acceptability of the current candidate, Salihu Danladi Yakubu, does not accurately reflect the realities on the ground.

“The truth is that whatever media theatrics have been staged so far are merely attempts to create a false impression of acceptance where none exists.”

The elders said they were speaking out because they believed the APC was heading towards electoral defeat if the current arrangement was allowed to stand.

“We are patriotic elders of the party who have spent years building the APC and who have nothing to gain personally from raising these concerns.

“Indeed, it would have been easier to remain silent, but we cannot, in these circumstances and in good conscience, support a political arrangement that we genuinely believe places the party in jeopardy and on a path towards electoral defeat.”

The caucus further alleged that some influential figures around the Presidency were working to impose an unpopular candidate on the party in Kwara State for personal and political interests.

“We respectfully ask them to place the long-term survival of the party above personal interests, private commitments and political promises.

“The future of the APC in Kwara State is too important to be sacrificed for the ambitions of a few individuals.”

The elders maintained that their intervention should not be interpreted as an act of disloyalty but as a sincere effort to save the party from what they described as a costly political error.

“Our intervention today should not be seen as an act of rebellion but as an act of patriotism and responsibility.

“We speak because we care. We speak because we believe the APC can still avoid a costly mistake. And we speak because history teaches that political parties are strongest when they are willing to listen to honest counsel from within.”

Also speaking at the briefing, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kwara State, Hon. Salman Jawondo (SAN), rejected the outcome of the APC governorship primary, insisting that no credible election took place.

“There was no primary election. What happened was daylight robbery,” Jawondo said.

“The party should provide an alternative candidate. Elders did not even have access to the Governor to present their complaints. We cannot continue to have a dictator.

“There should be a properly organised primary. We do not want the APC to lose this state, and that is why we want the situation to change.

“The opposition has gained significant ground. We cannot go into the election with SYD. If we do, the APC will lose the governorship election.”

The elders concluded by reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu and their commitment to the success of his administration and re-election bid in 2027.

Members of the APC Elders’ Caucus include former senators Makanjuola Ajadi and Muhammed Ahmed, former Senator Yakub Yahaya Oloriegbe, Hon. Salman Jawondo (SAN), Lt. Col. Abubakar Edun (Rtd), Hon. Mumin Katibi, Ambassador Zubair Zurura and other senior party stakeholders.