2027: Kwara South APC Elders Caucus Reconstituted
* Endorses Danladi’s Guber Candidacy
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Elders Caucus of the Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) has been reconstituted following the exit of its former Chairman, Chief James Ayeni.
It also reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and all the other APC candidates in the State.
The caucus made this known at a press conference in Ilorin on Friday, where it also endorsed the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The reconstituted caucus, comprising elders, leaders and stakeholders from the seven local government areas of Kwara South, is chaired by Hon. Engr. Benjamin Oyeyemi.
Oyeyemi, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the caucus was committed to strengthening the party’s unity and mobilising support for its candidates ahead of the elections.
The elders passed a vote of confidence in AbdulRazaq, commending his administration’s performance in infrastructure, education, healthcare and youth empowerment, particularly in Kwara South,
They urged the Governor to remain focused and provide the necessary leadership to ensure the APC’s victory in the state.
The caucus also formally endorsed Danladi-Salihu, describing him as tested, trusted, competent and capable of consolidating on the achievements of the AbdulRazaq administration.
It said the Speaker had demonstrated political maturity, leadership capacity and statewide appeal, adding that his experience placed him in a good position to lead the state after the expiration of the incumbent governor’s tenure.
The elders further called on APC members, aspirants and stakeholders across the state to close ranks and support the party’s decisions, insisting that individual political ambitions should not supersede the collective interest of the party.
Addressing concerns over internal disagreements and the possibility of defections, Oyeyemi acknowledged that some members remained aggrieved but said the situation would not prevent the caucus from working towards victory in 2027.
“Even among the aggrieved members, there are still people who are committed. There will always be issues, but that is not enough to run away from the reality that the election is going to be a challenging one,” he said.
He said the caucus would intensify grassroots mobilisation by reaching out to voters and engaging party members, adding that efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved stakeholders.
Oyeyemi specifically identified members of the G15 group as part of the APC family, assuring that communication with them remained open.
“Those in the G15 are part of us, and the line of communication is still open,” he said.
Also speaking, a member of the caucus, Raphael Olalekan, said the elders were determined to resolve internal disagreements and prevent the party from losing members ahead of the elections.
“We are one. Let us remind ourselves that politics is local. This is an elders caucus, and what we are concerned about is to work tirelessly to mend our fences and ensure that those who are probably leaving or are at the edge of leaving the party will return,” he said.
Olalekan said the caucus would prioritise reconciliation among aggrieved members, particularly those who had been part of the party’s political journey from the beginning.
“Our target is to make sure that issues are resolved among our aggrieved members ahead of the elections. By the special grace of God, we will win with a landslide victory,” he added.
He, however, stressed that the APC could not afford to lose any of its longstanding members, particularly those associated with the G15 group, urging party leaders to sustain efforts to bring them back into the fold.
The caucus also reaffirmed its loyalty to Tinubu and pledged to deliver overwhelming support for his re-election in Kwara South, alongside other APC candidates in 2027.
It called on youths, women, elders, artisans and other party faithful to remain united, while urging security agencies to sustain efforts to protect lives and property across the senatorial district.
