Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mustapha communicated his decision to the party in a resignation notice dated Thursday, following weeks of consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents across Kwara State.
The senator said his decision was reached after carefully considering developments within the party and their implications for his political future and the people he represents.
“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.”
Mustapha said his political decision was guided by his long-held belief that political leadership should remain connected to the interests of the people.
“As a politician, I have always believed that politics must be about people, principles and purpose. 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 also thanked the leadership of the APC for the years spent in the party and acknowledged the relationships he built during his time as a member.
“To the leadership of the APC, ably led by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I express my deepest gratitude for the relationships and experiences I have been afforded over the years.”
The senator further assured his supporters that leaving the APC would not affect his commitment to his constituents.
“To my constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders in Kwara State and beyond, I assure you that while my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged.”
“I remain steadfast in my service to the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria at large.”
The resignation of Mustapha follows a turbulent period within the Kwara APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He had earlier entered the race for the APC governorship ticket and formally submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms in May 2026.
At the time, he described the move as the beginning of his effort to seek the party’s ticket and build what he called a more progressive and inclusive Kwara.
The senator, however, did not emerge as the party’s governorship candidate. Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yahaya Danladi, emerged as the APC candidate after the primary.
The development deepened disagreements among several APC stakeholders who had challenged the direction of the party’s leadership in the state.
Mustapha was also affected by the party’s arrangement for the Kwara Central senatorial district.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been positioned to contest the senatorial seat, meaning Mustapha faces the loss of both the governorship ticket and an automatic return to the Senate on the APC platform.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is reportedly interested in having the senator contest under its platform in 2027.
A recent report said the PDP had considered offering him the Kwara Central senatorial ticket, potentially setting up a direct contest between Mustapha and Abdulrazaq.
Nevertheless, the immediate political implications of his resignation remain unclear.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Mustapha may pick the PDP senatorial ticket for Kwara Central.
In a related development, Mustapha had earlier denied leaving APC
The latest resignation is a major departure from a position Senator Saliu Mustapha publicly maintained in January 2025.
On January 20, 2025, Mustapha dismissed reports that he was preparing to leave the APC.
At the time, speculation had intensified that he could defect to another party ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Nasif Sholagberu, the senator described the reports as false and insisted that he remained committed to the APC.
“For the sake of clarity, it is worth reiterating that Senator Saliu Mustapha remains a staunch and loyal founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the statement said.
Mustapha also pointed to his role in the formation of the APC, noting that he was among those who signed the agreement that brought together the legacy parties that eventually formed the ruling party.
“As one of the privileged signatories to the historic February 2013 agreement that collapsed the three legacy parties to form the APC, his contributions to the creation, growth, and continued success of the party are well documented and highly regarded by stakeholders and members.”
At the time, the senator said his priority remained his mandate at the National Assembly and dismissed claims that he was being driven by political ambition to abandon the party.
“Senator Saliu Mustapha remains steadfast in his mandate at the National Assembly, which is to deliver quality representation to the good people of Kwara Central Senatorial District. He is fully focused on this responsibility and refuses to be distracted by cheap and unfounded propaganda.”
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