Saliu Mustapha emerges Kwara Central PDP Senatorial candidate hours after quitting APC
Kwara State
Abdullateef Fowewe
Senator Saliu Mustapha has been announced as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the Kwara Central senatorial seat, hours after resigning from the All Progressives Congress.
Mustapha replaces Yinka Otukoko, who had previously held the PDP ticket for the 2027 National Assembly election.
His emergence follows the growing realignment in Kwara politics involving the APC G15 faction, a bloc made up of 10 governorship aspirants, three serving APC senators, some members of the House of Representatives and other influential party leaders.
The group had expressed dissatisfaction with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the conduct of the Kwara APC governorship primary, which produced Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate.
The G15 faction has now reached an alliance with former Senate President Bukola Saraki after discussions aimed at securing the group’s support for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general election.
As part of the negotiations, the faction reportedly sought concessions over key elective positions, including Senate tickets.
Mustapha’s nomination for Kwara Central is understood to be among the agreements reached.
Saraki, meanwhile, is said to have secured the group’s backing for the PDP, with particular attention placed on the governorship contest.
Despite its alignment with the Kwara PDP structure, the G15 is also said to remain supportive of President Bola Tinubu.
