Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mustapha announced his resignation in a letter dated Thursday, following weeks of consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents across Kwara State.
The senator said the decision followed a careful assessment of developments within the APC and their implications for his political future and his representation of Kwara Central.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly. It follows weeks of extensive consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders, my supporters, constituents across Kwara Central Senatorial District, and well-meaning Kwarans,” he said.
According to him, his decision was driven by his belief that political leadership must remain focused on the interests and aspirations of the people.
“Where the path of a political platform no longer sufficiently aligns with these convictions and the aspirations of the people one represents, the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course,” he added.
Mustapha thanked President Bola Tinubu and other APC leaders for the relationships and experiences he gained during his years in the party.
His resignation came weeks after he lost the APC governorship primary in Kwara State.
The senator had purchased the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms in May 2026 to contest the governorship election and succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
He, however, lost the primary to the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yahaya Danladi, who emerged as the APC’s candidate.
Mustapha’s political future within the APC had also come under uncertainty following reports that AbdulRazaq was being positioned to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat in 2027, potentially challenging Mustapha’s bid for another term.
His resignation has consequently fuelled speculation that he could seek the Kwara Central senatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has reportedly expressed interest in his candidacy.
If he joins the PDP and secures its ticket, Mustapha could face AbdulRazaq in the 2027 contest for the senatorial seat.
The senator did not, however, disclose his next political platform in his resignation letter.
He assured his supporters that leaving the APC would not diminish his commitment to them.
“While my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged,” he said.
The resignation marks a reversal of Mustapha’s earlier stance on reports of his possible defection.
In January 2025, he dismissed speculation that he was planning to leave the APC, describing himself as a “staunch and loyal” member of the party.
He also recalled his role in the formation of the APC, saying he was among those who signed the 2013 agreement that brought together the legacy parties that formed the ruling party.
At the time, Mustapha said his priority remained the representation of the people of Kwara Central in the National Assembly.
His latest move now places his political future outside the APC at the centre of political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
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