Gov. Abdulrazaq endorses Seriki as his successor

Political observers believe the latest declaration may have finally clarified the widening cold war between Abdulrazaq and Mustapha over the control of the APC and the succession battle ahead of 2027.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Abdulrazaq said his decision followed “extensive consultations with party structures and leadership.”

The governor described Yahaya Seriki as “young, pro-people, astute and broad-minded,” adding that the businessman and politician possesses the capacity to lead the state.

According to him, Seriki has built extensive political goodwill and investments across Kwara State.

“I am pleased to endorse Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, MFR, as my preferred successor under the platform of our party, the APC,” the governor stated.

Abdulrazaq, however, said the endorsement does not stop other aspirants from participating in the governorship primary scheduled for Thursday, May 21.

He urged party leaders and members to support Seriki in the interest of “cohesion, unity and continuous success” of the APC in the state.

The governor also acknowledged the contributions and aspirations of other governorship contenders, saying the endorsement should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine them.

The latest move will signal a potential showdown between the governor’s anointed and Senator Mustapha ahead of the governorship primaries on Thursday.

This is coming especially amid reports of the growing rivalry between Abdulrazaq’s camp and forces supporting Mustapha.

Also Read: Gov. Abdulrazaq talks tough after Woro massacre

For months, both leaders have been linked to a subtle battle for influence within the Kwara APC as permutations over who succeeds Abdulrazaq intensified.

The tension became more pronounced during Monday’s controversial Kwara Central senatorial primary.

The governor’s camp had initially maintained that Abdulrazaq was the sole aspirant for the Senate seat.

However, a purported list later emerged showing Mustapha among cleared aspirants for the contest.

Stakeholders and party leaders in some wards subsequently described the exercise as a direct contest between the governor and the incumbent senator.

Mustapha’s camp later rejected the senatorial list, insisting that the senator neither purchased nomination forms for the Senate race nor participated in screening for the contest.

However, the senator later ‘clarified’ that he was still in the race and looking forward to the direct primary contest to choose the winner.

He said he would abide by whatever is the outcome of the results.

The governor’s endorsement statement of Seriki reads in parts: “Following extensive consultations with party structures and leadership, I am pleased to endorse Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as my preferred successor under the platform of our party, the All-Progressives Congress, APC.

“Young, pro-people, astute, and broad-minded, Amb. Yahaya Seriki has been a great political mobiliser with profound investments in and extensive goodwill among the people of Kwara State. I have no doubt about his capacity and that his choice is appropriate for the people of our state at this time.

“While this does not in any way preclude all other aspirants from contesting in the primaries, I urge members and leaders to affirm the choice of Seriki as our candidate for cohesion, unity, and continuous success of the party as we hold our gubernatorial primaries on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

“The choice of Amb. Yahaya Seriki is neither a disapproval of any of our eminently qualified aspirants nor a whimsical attempt to delegitimize the noble aspirations of our people. But in a race involving some 16 great minds for one office, only one person can take the shot at a time.

“Finally, I acknowledge and commend the statesmanship of our aspirants, all of whom have shown discipline and impressive capacity to build on the undeniable achievements of our administration over the last seven years for the good of the people of Kwara.”