In a show of solidarity, stakeholders from Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East and the 51 ward chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central have publicly dismissed the recent defection of Senator Saliu Mustapha to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The groups reaffirmed their commitment to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC governorship candidate for the upcoming elections, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, the stakeholders expressed their confidence in AbdulRazaq's administration, highlighting the significant progress made in various sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Councillor Ibrahim Salah, representing Gambari Ward 1, emphasized that their support was based on the tangible benefits the governor's projects have brought to the community.

"We are not here because of politics. We are here because the dividends of democracy are now visible, measurable and touching the lives of ordinary Kwara people, especially the good people of the Central Senatorial District," Salah stated. He further elaborated that there was no reason for the stakeholders to abandon the ruling party, given the positive impact of the administration.

Salah noted that the AbdulRazaq-led government has successfully completed 113.57 kilometres of road construction in Kwara Central, among other infrastructure initiatives. He also praised the Kwara State Social Investment Programme for its role in supporting businesses, youth, and vulnerable residents.

The stakeholders passed a vote of confidence in Governor AbdulRazaq, urging him to continue his development efforts by completing ongoing projects and expanding empowerment programs for women and youth. Salah remarked, "We hereby pass a vote of confidence on His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his visionary, inclusive and impactful governance."

Additionally, the stakeholders pledged their support for the APC and its candidates in the 2027 elections, including Danladi for the governorship and AbdulRazaq for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

Baba Abdullahi, Chairman of Gambari Ward II and the APC ward chairmen across the state, reassured party members that Mustapha's departure would not weaken the party's structure in Kwara Central. He described the ward chairmen as the "engine room" of the party's grassroots mobilization efforts.

Abdullahi rejected claims that Mustapha's electoral success in 2023 was solely due to his personal efforts, asserting that it was a collective achievement facilitated by the party's grassroots members and the leadership of AbdulRazaq. "We are the engine room of the APC in Kwara Central. We are the ones who walk the streets, visit the households, and mobilize the voters who ensured the victory of our party, including Senator Saliu Mustapha, in the 2023 general elections," he said.

He characterized Mustapha's decision to leave the APC as a personal political choice, emphasizing that it does not reflect the desires of the grassroots electorate. Abdullahi urged residents of Kwara Central to remain focused on the APC's development agenda and not be swayed by the senator's political maneuvering, stating, "The APC remains the only party that puts the welfare of the ordinary Kwarans at the center of governance."