The gubernatorial ambition of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, for the 2027 general elections, has taken a new twist with a civil society group accusing him of double participation in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly primary elections in the state.

The Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, has dragged the lawmaker to court over alleged participation in the state gubernatorial and House of Assembly primary elections.

Joined in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1112/2026, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, are the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The group is questioning Danladi’s alleged participation in both the APC governorship primary and the House of Assembly primary for Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency during the same election cycle.

The plaintiff alleged that Danladi was screened, cleared and participated as an aspirant in the APC primary election for the Kwara State House of Assembly seat for Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency held on May 20, 2026.

He is also alleged to have taken part in the party’s governorship primary conducted on May 21 and another exercise allegedly held on May 22, 2026, which declared him the winner of the party’s primary election.

The originating summons filed before the court by the plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether the sponsorship and continued recognition of Danladi by the APC for two separate elective offices in the same election season is constitutional and lawful under the Electoral Act, 2026.

The plaintiff further wants the court to determine whether a candidate who participated in two different primary elections for separate offices in the same electoral cycle can validly emerge as the winner of one of the contests while the outcome of the other primary election remains unresolved or unpublished.

Reliefs sought by the plaintiff include asking the court to declare that Danladi’s nomination, screening, clearance and participation in both the House of Assembly and governorship primaries amount to a violation of the Electoral Act and provisions regulating party primaries and nominations.

The body also urged the court to declare his governorship aspiration and emergence as the APC candidate unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The suit further seeks an order restraining INEC from accepting, publishing, recognising or retaining Danladi’s name as the APC governorship candidate if the court finds that he participated in the two primary elections simultaneously.

The plaintiff is relying on provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions in urging the court to grant the reliefs sought.

The legal action is the latest development in the growing controversies surrounding the APC’s governorship primary process in Kwara state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

DAILY POST recalls that only recently, the elders caucus of the party in the state, declared Yakubu Danladi Salihu as unfit after his emergence in the controversial primary election as the gubernatorial candidate of the party, accusing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of imposing him on the party.

However, another group in the state chapter of the party, dismissed the claim of the elders caucus and assured that he is eminently qualified to be the flag bearer of the party for the governorship election in 2027.

Political analysts and observers described the recent developments in the state chapter of the party as a major sign of implosion which could be detrimental to its performance in the general elections in the state.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, Dr Oyelami Saliu, has cautioned against wishing Governor Ademola Adeleke dead, insisting that the governor would live to hand over power after the election.

Saliu, a medical practitioner, made the remark on Friday during the 10th edition of the Media Parley organised by the Osun Online Publishers Association, OOPA, while reacting to the recent stage collapse involving Governor Adeleke.

He said he wished the governor a long life beyond the end of his tenure, declaring that Adeleke would remain alive to hand over power to him should he win the election.

“Adeleke will not die; he will be alive to hand over to me. Political contests should not be accompanied by ill wishes or hostility towards opponents,” he said.

Speaking on the performance of the current administration, the PRP candidate acknowledged that Governor Adeleke had made efforts in office but argued that the achievements recorded so far were insufficient to meet the aspirations of the people of Osun State.

“The incumbent governor of Osun State has done his best. Clearly, it is time to change the current leadership. It is time for the PRP to take over the reins of governance in Osun State,” he said.

Saliu further stated that his decision to contest the governorship election was informed by his belief that Osun required a different approach to governance and development.

“If Governor Adeleke was doing well enough, I would not be contesting against him,” he added.

The PRP flagbearer assured residents that his administration would perform better across various sectors if elected and pledged to sustain ongoing projects initiated by the present government that were beneficial to the people.

On the issue of airport development in the state, Saliu said he would conduct a detailed assessment of the two airport projects currently under construction before deciding which one would be most viable for completion.

He explained that his administration would prioritise projects based on feasibility, economic benefits and their capacity to drive development across the state.

The governorship candidate while expressing confidence said his party could provide the leadership required to move the state forward.

African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dele Momodu, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election will be tough for President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview on Nevon Media with Oseni Rufai, on Friday Momodu expressed optimism that the candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, will win the election.

According to him, if Atiku can hold his ground in the southern part of the country while dominating the north, he will easily defeat both President Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi.

“As I predicted, Atiku will win the majority of the North, and if he is able to compete favourably in the South, it will be over for President Tinubu and Peter Obi. 

“Atiku will secure at least 25% of the votes in 26 states while also dominating the North, which is where the bulk of the votes are,” he said.

He further stated that to win a presidential election in Nigeria, the constitution requires a candidate to secure the highest number of total votes, plus at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the states.

He expressed the belief that Atiku is on track to clear this hurdle by locking down the high-voting northern states.

His prediction comes as the key political rivals prepared to face off again. In the previous 2023 election, Bola Tinubu won the presidency with roughly 37% of the vote, relying on a powerful base in the South-West and a steady spread of votes across the country.

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