The implosion in the ruling Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to escalate as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s group storms the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday to meet with the national leadership over the crisis triggered by the alleged imposition of Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the move by the governor’s camp comes on the heels of a strong petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by 10 gubernatorial aspirants who kicked against the recent primary election that produced Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

Recall that members of the party’s elders’ caucus in the state, led by Chief James Bamisaiye, and some aspirants had earlier rejected the emergence of Engr Yakubu Danladi Salihu in Abuja. They alleged that he was anointed by Governor AbdulRazaq and urged the party’s national leadership to intervene.

The chairman of the party in the state, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, is leading the governor’s team alongside former PDP Secretary, Razaq Lawal, and Chairman of the Niger River Basin Development Authority, Abdullateef Alakawa, among others, according to sources.

Credible sources familiar with the latest development hinted that the high-powered delegation of APC stakeholders aligned with the governor is on a mission to present the governor’s position to key organs of the ruling party.

A source involved in the planning of the Abuja trip revealed that arrangements had been concluded for members of the delegation to depart Ilorin aboard a chartered flight.

According to the source, the decision to use a chartered aircraft was informed by a desire to ensure that details of the movement are kept away from public scrutiny.

“We want to ensure that nobody knows who is travelling. So, we are leaving by 6 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, through a chartered flight,” the source said.

The governor’s group is expected to meet with the national chairman of the party and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The team is also expected to hold consultations with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as part of broader efforts to secure support for the governor’s position on the unfolding political developments within the ruling party in the state.

While the governor’s supporters insist that the party remains united and capable of resolving its internal differences, political analysts and critics are, however, of the view that recent developments reflect widening cracks within the APC’s structure in the state.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has accused the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of allegedly ‘snatching’ 69 forms for various political offices in Kano, thereby creating chaos and uncertainty for the party.

Speaking at a press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre, Kano, the PRP State Chairman, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, said, “I was in Kaduna as State Chairman of PRP to participate at the party retreat and also obtained forms for my people who were contesting various offices in Kano and who paid for them but I was told that somebody had purchased all the forms”.

Musa Guza added, “When I pressed hard to know who the person was, the national secretary of our party told me that it was Kwankwaso and I asked why, they said we are in talks with him for his possible defections to our party”.

According to him, after days without any sign of Kwankwaso defecting to the PRP, it became apparent that he may have been engaged in a mischievous mission against the party, as one cannot belong to another party while holding another party’s forms.

The party chairman further alleged, “We don’t know his missions, that is why we are telling every  listening ears the situation”.

The PRP leader expressed concern that hundreds of aspirants seeking to contest under the party are now left in confusion, uncertain about their political fate.

“That is why we are taking legal actions against him should he refuse to surrender our forms before INEC closes time for submission of contestants’ names to their office,” he said.

“It is not only our party that is suffering this negative fate. Other parties are facing the same problems as us”, he added.

Yiaga Africa has confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, official results for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election align with its own independent tally, but the group raised red flags over widespread vote buying and inconsistencies in voter turnout data.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the election observer group said its Process and Results Verification for Transparency, PRVT, methodology showed that INEC’s declared results matched ballots counted at polling units.

Yiaga Africa commended INEC for improvements in logistics and conduct, including early deployment of materials and personnel, prompt accreditation and voting, and a generally peaceful atmosphere across the state.

However, the group highlighted key concerns: rampant voter inducement, weak management of sensitive materials, poor public communication on late administrative and judicial decisions, and turnout figures that don’t add up.

“The numbers: Yiaga’s statistical projections estimated the All Progressives Congress (APC) at 83.9–87.1% of votes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at 8.5–11.7%, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at 2.9–4.1%. All fell within INEC’s announced results.

“The turnout gap: Yiaga’s estimated turnout was 34.1–38.2%, while INEC announced 38.7%. Yiaga noted INEC appeared to use the 2022 registered voters figure instead of the updated 2026 register.

Yiaga recommended that “INEC should clarify the turnout discrepancy and tighten quality control for sensitive materials ahead of future polls, including the 2027 general elections.

“Security agencies need to crack down harder on vote buying and voter intimidation.

“Political parties must better train polling agents on electoral laws and guidelines.

“Regulating incumbency powers and the use of state resources is critical to ensure fair competition.

“Yiaga Africa stressed that while election administration has improved, vote buying and management lapses remain serious threats to Nigeria’s electoral integrity.”