Senator Saliu Mustapha Defects to PDP to Challenge Governor AbdulRazaq

Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District, resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 21, 2026, and immediately joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mustapha, a founding member of the APC and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, cited a misalignment between the party's current path and his political principles.

The defection follows a protracted disagreement with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and disputes over a controversial governorship primary that saw Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu emerge as the candidate. The situation escalated when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) named Governor AbdulRazaq as the APC candidate for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat, effectively blocking Mustapha's path to reelection under the ruling party.

Following his resignation in Ilorin, PDP Kwara State Chairman Issa Bawa formally handed Mustapha the party's senatorial ticket for the district. This move establishes a direct electoral contest between Mustapha and Governor AbdulRazaq for the 2027 general elections. Other APC members, including Hon. Kolo Jiya, have also resigned to join the PDP.

PDP State Publicity Secretary Olusegun Adewara characterized the resignation as a confirmation that the APC leadership crisis has reached a dangerous stage, accusing Governor AbdulRazaq of failing to unite party leaders. The Kwara APC and Governor AbdulRazaq have not yet issued official comments on the defection.