PDP crisis deepens as two governorship candidates emerge in Kwara

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the national level appears to have extended to Kwara State, as two separate governorship primaries conducted by rival factions of the party have produced parallel candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The PDP had last Sunday announced Kale Kawu Agaka as its governorship candidate. However, a faction loyal to the Kabir Turaki (SAN)-led national leadership of the party on Sunday nominated Ladi Hassan as its own governorship candidate.

While Agaka emerged from the faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, Hassan secured the ticket under the Turaki-led faction, further deepening the internal crisis within the opposition party.

The emergence of two governorship candidates from the same party has raised concerns among political observers, who fear a prolonged legal and political battle over which candidate will eventually be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reacting to the development,
Kayode Abdulrahman, the Kwara State Secretary of the PDP, alleged that the factional governorship candidate was being sponsored by individuals outside the party to destabilise it.

According to him, Hassan had obtained the PDP nomination form and participated in the party’s governorship primary election, where he was defeated.

“For him to have gone ahead to emerge as a governorship candidate under a fake PDP that is not recognised by INEC speaks volumes. He must have been sponsored by people outside our party. But I assure you that they cannot succeed,” Abdulrahman said.

Political analysts, however, warned that the deepening division could significantly weaken the PDP’s chances of presenting a united front in Kwara State, which the opposition is eager to reclaim.

Party stakeholders and supporters have continued to call for urgent reconciliation among the warring factions. However, with both sides standing their ground, attention is now shifting to INEC and the courts to determine which candidate, if any, will legally represent the PDP in the 2027 governorship election.

The development is expected to have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Kwara State as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum