Speaker Salihu Yakubu Danladi secured 94,990 votes to win the Kwara All Progressives Congress governorship primary held on 22 May 2026, according to the party's supervisory committee chairman, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. The primary, conducted at the Banquet Hall along Ahmadu Bello Way in Ilorin, saw Danladi defeat eight other aspirants, including Femi Sani, who received 5,519 votes, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe with 3,920, Belgore with 3,411, and Mohamed Bio with 1,122. The result was announced in the presence of loyal party members and a panel sent from the national headquarters.
A coalition of APC elders and stakeholders from all three senatorial districts endorsed Danladi at a press briefing on Monday, affirming the exercise was peaceful, free and fair. Those present included Mallam Lateef Gidado Alakawa, Ambassador Nurudeen Mohammed, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, Alhaji Mustapha Kobe, Malam Abdulrazaq Lawal, Hon. Adamu Sabi, Mr Kayode Towoju, Malam Sadu Salahudeen, Dr. Wasiu Tejidini, Mr Bamidele Aluko, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, all 16 local government party chairmen, and all 16 council chairmen. Alakawa, who read the statement, said Danladi received over 65% of total votes and led in all senatorial zones, with five northern local governments returning over 90% of their votes for him.
The group dismissed claims by some party members that the governor influenced the outcome, stating Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq allowed a free contest and accepted the result as a democrat. They noted that Danladi, an engineer and current Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, has since visited traditional rulers and key stakeholders, who have blessed and pledged support for his 2027 poll bid. No complaints were filed by any aspirant after the primary, and the candidate has extended fellowship to his former opponents.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq claims he did not impose a candidate, yet the party elders praising his democratic spirit are the same officials who unanimously backed his preferred successor. Danladi's overwhelming vote share from party structures across all zones suggests institutional alignment rather than an open contest. The absence of any formal challenge from defeated aspirants weakens the claim of a truly competitive primary. This consolidation around the speaker signals continuity, not choice, ahead of 2027.
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