Kwara APC Primary: Salihu Defeats Gambari in Surprise Vote

The consensus deal within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State unraveled within 24 hours as Yakubu Danladi Salihu won the governorship primary on Friday, receiving 94,990 votes compared to Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari's 41,700 votes. This unexpected outcome has sparked discussions about the influence of political elites and the future direction of the party leading up to the 2027 elections.

Salihu's victory is significant as he is one of the youngest gubernatorial candidates in Nigeria, having previously served as the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. The political landscape in Kwara has historically favored the central region, but Salihu's win may indicate a shift towards the northern region, which has been sidelined in previous elections.

The APC primary has evolved into a referendum on the state's readiness to address the political deficit experienced by northern stakeholders, particularly as Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's administration approaches its final term in 2026.