Former Senate President Bukola Saraki may be set to engage aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State as internal tensions within the ruling party deepen ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development followed a fresh move by the APC’s G15 bloc, now operating under the banner of Oto Ge Progressives, to challenge what it described as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s alleged attempt to impose a succession arrangement and preferred candidates ahead of the polls.

The group made its position known at a world press conference in Ilorin on Thursday, attended by APC leaders, governorship and other elective-office aspirants, party elders, women and youth groups.

Among those present were Senator Saliu Mustapha, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, Sodiq Umar, Lola Ashiru, Ahmed Ahmed and Ajadi Makanjuola, as well as former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN), and Chief Dele Belgore (SAN).

Speaking for the coalition, Oloriegbe urged the national leadership of the APC to intervene urgently, warning that continued disregard for the grievances of party members could weaken the party ahead of 2027.

He said the group was opposed to what it described as attempts to predetermine candidates and leadership succession without adequate consultation with party members.

“Unless the present arrangement is reconsidered and the widespread dissatisfaction among party members genuinely addressed, the party’s unity and electoral success can no longer be assured.

“The unity and electoral future of our party cannot be secured by disregarding widespread dissatisfaction or endorsing an arrangement that lacks legitimacy among its members,” Oloriegbe said.

The former lawmaker also alleged that members opposed to the governor’s alleged succession plan had been subjected to intimidation, inducements and political pressure.

He further accused the administration of attempting to impose candidates who, according to him, lacked sufficient acceptance within their communities.

“Individuals who are neither known nor acceptable to their communities are being imposed as candidates across the state as part of a wider scheme to entrench a regime of godfatherism.

“The determination to resist and defeat this scheme was, and remains, the principal reason for the emergence of this movement,” he alleged.

The coalition insisted that the APC should adopt a transparent and democratic process in selecting its candidates, rejecting what it described as the control of the party’s future by a single individual.

It also accused AbdulRazaq of abandoning the principles of consultation and inclusiveness associated with the 2019 Oto Ge movement, which brought the APC to power and ended the dominance of the Saraki political structure in the state.

The group, however, said it would pursue its demands through lawful and democratic means while remaining open to available political options ahead of 2027.

The development coincided with moves by the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to bring members of the APC’s G15 into its fold.

At the end of a two-day stakeholders’ meeting held at Saraki’s residence in Ilorin between August 5 and 6, the PDP directed the former Senate President to commence discussions with members of the G15 and other political parties.

The resolution was contained in a communiqué signed by the state PDP Chairman, Adamu Bawa, and Secretary, Abdulrahman Kayode.

According to the communiqué, the engagement is aimed at strengthening the PDP and expanding its political base ahead of future elections.

“The stakeholders mandated Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki to proceed with engagements with members of the Kwara APC’s G15 and other political parties, to further strengthen the PDP and expand its base ahead of future elections,” the party stated.

The stakeholders also urged PDP leaders, aspirants and candidates to subordinate individual ambitions to the collective interest of the party, stressing that unity and sacrifice would be critical to the party’s chances in 2027.

They noted that the need for unity would become more important if members of the G15 eventually defected to the PDP.

The stakeholders also passed a vote of confidence in Saraki, citing his leadership experience and commitment to the party and the state.

Airport encounter fuels speculation

Meanwhile, Saraki and members of the Oto Ge Progressives were seen together in a viral video following a chance encounter at the Ilorin International Airport on Thursday.

The encounter occurred only hours after the PDP formally authorised Saraki to begin engagements with aggrieved APC stakeholders.

Although the meeting at the airport was described as a chance encounter, the timing has fuelled speculation of a possible political realignment in Kwara ahead of the 2027 elections.

With the APC faction openly challenging the governor’s alleged succession plan and the PDP now authorised to court members of the group, the unfolding developments could reshape the state’s political landscape well ahead of the 2027 contest.