Speaker Danladi emerges winner of Kwara APC governorship race

Kwara House of Assembly Speaker and leading aspirant in the governorship primaries Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD) on Friday emerged the winner of the APC governorship primary elections in the state.


From the three senatorial zones of Kwara state party leaders, stakeholders, and members turned up on Friday to affirm the choice Danladi (SYD) who polled more than 65 percent of the total ballots.

The Speaker polled 94,990 votes to beat his closest challenger Amb. Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki who got 41,700 votes and Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa who polled 22,118.

The result was declared on Friday evening by the Chairman of the Kwara State APC Governorship Primaries Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.

Seriki, Dele Belgore and Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa trailed behind Danladi who was earlier announced as the choice of the party leaders and members in the state.

Key contenders, including Amb. Yahaya Seriki, had earlier mobilised support for SYD in a show of solidarity for the man who the Governor has newly endorsed as the candidate of the ruling party.

From Alanamu to Ajikobi, Ojuekun and Adewole in Ilorin West to Ibagun and Gambari in Ilorin East, field reports show SYD leading comfortably among party members who voted massively for him with his posters in their hands.

All the five local government areas in Kwara North returned more than 90 percent of their votes in favour of the Speaker; while he also led comfortably across the two other senatorial districts.

In Kwara South, Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero, and Ifelodun stood firmly behind the choice of the Speaker, underscoring his strong support base across the state.

Results of the other candidates are Engr. Femi Sani 5,519; Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe 3,920; Dele Belgore 3,411; Mohamed Bio 1,122; Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, 1,099; Amb. Seriki 41,700; Bolarinwa 22,118; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2,434; and Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, 1,722.