Kwara South APC stakeholders oppose Lola Ashiru’s Senate bid

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara South have rejected alleged moves to secure a third-term Senate ticket for the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru, ahead of the party’s senatorial primary election.

 

The position was made known on Sunday in Ilorin by the Kwara South APC Opinion Leaders through a former Ifelodun Local Government chairman, Engr. Uthman Alabi.

 

The group said it was intervening to protect internal democracy and ensure a transparent and credible primary process.

 

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Alabi described the Senate primary as crucial to the unity and stability of the party in Kwara South.

 

“We are united by one common objective to ensure that the ongoing primary elections in our state are conducted in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner that will strengthen our party ahead of the forthcoming general elections,” he said.

 

The group noted that Kwara South remained politically significant within the state, with 83 of the 193 wards in Kwara and seven of the state’s 16 local government areas.

 

The stakeholders warned against actions capable of weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

They declared support for former Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr Muheebat Adenike Dankaka, as their preferred candidate for the Senate seat.

 

According to the group, Dankaka possesses the credibility, grassroots support and political acceptance needed to secure victory for the party.

 

“We collectively, as members of Kwara South Senatorial District, raise our voices to make it known that Dr Muheebat Adenike Dankaka is the preferred candidate for the Senate in our district,” Alabi said.

 

“She is a trusted and tested woman. During her tenure as Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, she displayed a rare commitment to Kwara South.”

 

The stakeholders also criticised Senator Ashiru’s political performance and questioned his continued ambition to return to the Senate.

 

“We begin to wonder how people with no bearing and compassion for our children can have the audacity to want to contest for an elective position again after their abysmal failure in previous responsibilities,” the group stated.

 

The group insisted that where consensus could not be achieved, the APC should conduct direct primaries in line with the party’s constitution and democratic principles.

 

“As clearly stated by the National Chairman of our great party, wherever there is no consensus candidate, there must be direct primaries,” the statement added.

 

The stakeholders warned against the imposition of candidates, saying such a move could damage the party’s chances in the next general elections.

 

They maintained that the APC needed candidates with proven records, grassroots acceptance and public trust.

 

The Senate primary is expected to hold amid rising tension within the Kwara South APC following growing divisions among stakeholders ahead of the exercise.

 

Senator Ashiru had earlier declared interest in the 2027 governorship race before later returning to the Senate contest, a development that reportedly deepened disagreements within the party.