The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has escalated, with two rival factions nominating separate governorship candidates for the 2027 general elections. The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction, which includes former Governor Bukola Saraki, announced Kale Kawu as its candidate through a consensus arrangement brokered by Saraki, where other aspirants stepped down. However, on Sunday, the Kabir Turaki (SAN) faction unveiled Ladi Hassan, a long-time associate of Saraki, as its standard-bearer, breaking the facade of unity.
Concerns Over Legal and Political Tussle
This development has sparked concerns among party faithful and political observers about a protracted legal and political battle over the PDP ticket for the 2027 governorship election. The state PDP Secretary, Kayode Abdulrahman, condemned Hassan's nomination, alleging that external forces orchestrated it to destabilize the party. He stated that Hassan participated in the faction's primary and lost, only to reappear through an unrecognized faction. “For him to have emerged as a governorship candidate in the fake PDP that is not recognised by INEC speaks volumes. He must have been sponsored by people outside our party. But I assure you they can’t succeed,” Abdulrahman said.
Deepening Divisions
The crisis has further exposed divisions within the party at a time when it seeks to reposition itself ahead of the next electoral cycle. Political observers warn that unless resolved quickly, it could undermine the PDP's challenge for power in the state. Meanwhile, the Kwara Patriotic Movement (Itesiwaju Kwara), a political pressure group within the party, has called for the immediate suspension of Hassan over alleged violation of the consensus agreement that produced Kale. In a statement, the group accused Hassan of reneging after signing the agreement alongside other aspirants. “For 48 hours, Kwara Patriotic Movement waited for clarity, for correction, for honour. What we saw instead was Mr Ladi Hassan, a signatory to the PDP’s sacred consensus agreement, standing openly with the faction working to undermine that same agreement,” the statement read.
Group Urges Discipline
The group described consensus as the foundation of internal party stability and warned that agreements reached among stakeholders should not be abandoned for personal ambition. “A consensus agreement is not a campaign flyer you discard when another offer looks brighter. It is the glue that holds a party together,” it stated. The group also commended Saraki for his commitment to party unity and structured leadership, warning that failure to enforce discipline could weaken the PDP's prospects in future elections. “Party discipline is not punishment. It is protection. It protects the integrity of our process, the confidence of our members, and the future of our governorship ambition,” the statement added. The group urged the PDP state leadership to suspend Hassan, insisting that the party must choose between “discipline or decay.”
No Official Response Yet
As of the time of filing this report, neither Hassan nor the Kwara State PDP leadership had officially responded to the allegations. With both factions holding firmly to their positions, attention is now expected to turn to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and, possibly, the courts to determine the rightful candidate of the former ruling party in Kwara State.
