Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has been screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s primary election for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
According to a source, the governor was screened in Abuja on Monday.
The development signals a fresh permutations about the political permutations ahead of the 2027 elections in the State.
Confirming the development on Tuesday night, the governor’s Special Adviser on Political Communication, Bashir Adigun, said AbdulRazaq successfully participated in the screening exercise.
“I can confirm that he has been screened to contest for the Senate seat in Kwara Central,” he said.
He added that “And we are sure of landslide victory.”
AbdulRazaq is expected to complete his constitutionally permitted two terms as governor on May 29, 2027.
Sources within the party said the governor remains the only aspirant to have obtained the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat following the directive by the presidency as concerning governor going to the Senate in APC.
Daily Trust reports that the governor’s decision to seek the Kwara Central senatorial seat is widely being interpreted as more than a routine transition.
Observers believe the move is strategically tied to the broader battle over the future control of the APC structure in Kwara after 2027.
At the centre of the unfolding political calculations is the incumbent senator representing the district, Salihu Mustapha.
The senator has obtained the APC governorship nomination form.
The governor’s entry into the Kwara Central senatorial race is expected to place him on a direct political path with Mustapha.
With AbdulRazaq moving toward the Senate and Mustapha reportedly positioning for Government House, the emerging equation has effectively placed both political tendencies on a collision course over succession, influence and the control of party machinery ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Within the APC, insiders say the development is already triggering quiet realignments among stakeholders seeking to identify where the pendulum may eventually swing.
For AbdulRazaq’s loyalists, the Senate seat is viewed as a strategic platform to preserve the governor’s political relevance and maintain influence over the direction of governance and party affairs after the expiration of his tenure.
Supporters also believe a move to the National Assembly would enable him to retain a strong voice within both state and national politics.
On the other hand, Mustapha’s camp is believed to be leveraging his current position as senator representing Kwara Central to strengthen consultations across party blocs and structures nationally and back home.
The unfolding permutations have also revived conversations around the long-standing power dynamics within Kwara politics.
Analysts say the coming months may witness intensified consultations and increased political horse-trading within the APC as different blocs intensify efforts ahead of the party’s primaries.
Although neither camp has openly acknowledged any rivalry, party insiders insist the movements toward the Senate and Government House have already altered the political permutations within the ruling party.
Political analysts in the state have warned that the APC must carefully manage the political ambitions of Governor AbdulRazaq and senator Mustapha, cautioning that failure to do so could negatively affect the party’s fortunes in the 2027 general elections.
Opposition parties in the state are said to be closely monitoring the unfolding situation, reportedly with a view to exploiting any emerging cracks or divisions within the ruling party as preparations toward 2027 gather momentum.
Efforts to get reaction from the camp of Mustapha was not successful as of the time of filing this report.