I didn’t participate in APC senatorial primary, says Kwara lawmaker

The senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, has dismissed reports linking him to the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Kwara State, insisting that he neither contested nor withdrew from the exercise.

Mustapha, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, said he only obtained nomination forms to contest the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Media Assistant, Nasif Sholagberu, the senator described reports associating him with the Kwara Central senatorial primary as false and misleading.

The statement read, “For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Saliu Mustapha officially obtained APC nomination forms to contest for the governorship of Kwara State in the forthcoming 2027 general elections and not for the Senate.

“At no time did Senator Saliu Mustapha obtain nomination forms for the Senate, nor did he participate in or undergo any screening process for the senatorial contest.”

The clarification followed the circulation of a purported list of aspirants for the APC senatorial primary, which allegedly included Mustapha’s name alongside that of Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The development reportedly created confusion within the party after earlier indications from government officials suggested that AbdulRazaq was the sole aspirant for the Kwara Central Senate seat.

Reacting to the controversy, Mustapha’s camp maintained that the senator remained focused on the APC governorship primary scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the lawmaker had already participated in the APC governorship screening in Abuja earlier this month and was preparing for the party’s primary election.

The statement further noted that Mustapha had urged APC members, delegates, and supporters across the state to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise.

It added that the senator remained optimistic that party stakeholders would consider him worthy of emerging as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election but would accept the outcome in good faith if the result did not favour him.

The statement also described documents and reports portraying the senator as a participant in the senatorial primary as “forged, fake, misleading and of no consequence.”

It challenged anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence showing that the senator purchased senatorial nomination forms or participated in screening for the contest.

Mustapha had earlier announced the submission of his governorship nomination and expression of interest forms, describing the move as part of efforts to build a “more progressive and inclusive Kwara State.”

He had also confirmed his successful screening by the APC governorship screening committee in Abuja.

Despite the controversy surrounding the senatorial primary, the senator’s media team reiterated support for AbdulRazaq’s senatorial ambition, insisting that reports linking Mustapha to the race were the handiwork of “mischief makers” seeking to create confusion within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.