Senator Saliu Mustapha has made a significant claim regarding former Senate President Bukola Saraki's political maneuvers, suggesting that Saraki is actively supporting President Bola Tinubu's bid for re-election in 2027. This assertion comes in the wake of Mustapha's recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he has secured the party's nomination for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

In an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Mustapha described Saraki's involvement in what he termed the "Rainbow Coalition," a political alliance aimed at ensuring Tinubu's success in the upcoming elections. Despite leading the PDP in Kwara State, Saraki's support for Tinubu has raised eyebrows, especially as he is not contesting for an elective position in 2027, which Mustapha noted is essential to understanding Saraki's current political strategy.

Mustapha's defection is part of a larger movement involving various political factions in Kwara, including the G15, Elders' Caucus, TOPS, and the Otoge Progressive movement. These groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the APC, particularly targeting Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the party's governorship nomination process. Mustapha emphasized that their collective decision to join the PDP was driven by grievances against the governor's handling of candidate selection, specifically criticizing the lack of consultation with key stakeholders.

The senator highlighted that the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the APC governorship candidate was particularly contentious. He claimed that the governor initially favored Ambassador Yahaya Seriki before abruptly switching to Danladi-Salihu within a short timeframe. This rapid change, according to Mustapha, has fueled the discontent among various political groups in the state, prompting them to seek an alternative platform in the PDP.

When questioned about whether their political struggle was directly against Governor AbdulRazaq, Mustapha affirmed, "precisely." He also rejected the notion that Danladi-Salihu's nomination had the backing of the Presidency, insisting that the upcoming governorship contest should prioritize competence over traditional zoning practices.

Senator Mustapha's recent political shift and his allegations regarding Saraki's support for Tinubu signal a complex landscape in Kwara State politics as the 2027 elections approach. His move not only sets the stage for a direct electoral confrontation with Governor AbdulRazaq but also underscores the intricate alliances and rivalries shaping the political arena in Nigeria today.