Speaker Yakubu Danladi Emerges APC Governorship Candidate in Kwara
KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN
Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, has been elected governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship primaries held in the 193 wards of the state on Friday.
Announcing results of the exercise at the banquet hall of the state government in Ilorin after the primary, the chairman of the Kwara state APC governorship primaries and returning officer for the exercise, Musiliu Obanikoro, said that Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD) polled more than 65% of the total ballots.
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Danladi polled 94,990 votes to beat his closest challenger Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki who got 41,700 votes and Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, who polled 22,118.
Seriki, Dele Belgore and Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa trailed behind Danladi who was earlier announced as the choice of the party leaders and members in the state.
Key contenders, including Amb. Yahaya Seriki, had earlier mobilised support for SYD in a show of solidarity for the man who the Governor has newly endorsed as the candidate of the ruling party.
From Alanamu to Ajikobi, Ojuekun and Adewole in Ilorin West to Ibagun and Gambari in Ilorin East, field reports show SYD leading comfortably among party members who voted massively for him with his posters in their hands.
All the five local government areas in the North returned more than 90% of their votes in favour of the Speaker; while he also led comfortably across the two other senatorial districts.
In Southern District, Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero, and Ifelodun stood firmly behind the choice of the Speaker, underscoring his strong support base across the state.
Results of the other candidates are Engr. Femi Sani 5,519; Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe 3,920; Belgore 3,411; Mohamed Bio 1122; Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, 1099; Amb. Seriki 41,700; Bolarinwa 22,118; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2434; and Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, 1722.
Meanwhile, the rescheduled governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state was on Friday held across the 193 wards of the state.
The Tribune gathered that the exercise, which witnessed a large turnout of party supporters and party stakeholders, saw them conducting themselves in orderly and peaceful manners in presence of security and INEC officials.
The governorship primaries, which involved 16 aspirants, however, saw supporters of only four leading aspirants, namely Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Professor Wale Sulaiman, and Saliu Mustapha.
At Ubandawaki ward in the Ilorin West local government area, APC in members reaffirmed their loyalty and support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, as they overwhelmingly voted in support of Speaker House of Assembly Rt. Hon Salihu Yakubu Dalandi as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.
The ward leaders, party faithful, youths, and women mobilized in large numbers during the exercise, demonstrating unity, commitment, and confidence in the leadership direction of Governor AbdulRazaq. The massive turnout reflected the grassroots acceptance enjoyed by Rt. Hon. Danladi across the ward and beyond.
In Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Tsaragi Ward III precisely, all APC members of the Ward queued up behind Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Danladi also won by wide margin in Bapaetyboko Ward, Ilorin West LG as party members held rally to support his candidacy.
End.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MAY 22ND 2026)
