YASYA Rejects Obanikoro-Led APC Primary Result, Demands Yahaya Seriki Gambari as 2027 Guber Candidate
The Yahaya Seriki Youth Alliance [YASYA], a political pressure group mobilizing young professionals across Kwara State, has rejected the outcome of the recent All Progressives Congress [APC] primary election conducted under the leadership of Sen. Musuliu Obanikoro, describing the process as inconclusive and lacking credibility.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin on behalf of the group, YASYA coordinator Kayode Olalere said the alliance, alongside countless members of the APC drawn from different local government areas, was compelled to express their grievances publicly over what they termed a flawed and incomplete exercise.
“It is unfortunate that Sen. Musuliu Obanikoro, who was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the APC primaries in Kwara, could not conclude an ordinary primary election,” Olalere stated. “For a process meant to strengthen internal democracy within the party, the failure to bring it to a logical and transparent conclusion undermines confidence in the leadership at that level.”
Olalere said YASYA members, who represent a cross-section of professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and grassroots mobilizers from across Kwara’s three senatorial districts, had closely monitored the primaries and concluded that the process did not reflect the will of the majority of party members.
“The youths of Kwara are watching. We are not just bystanders. We are stakeholders in the future of this state, and we frown at the manner in which the Obanikoro-led primaries were handled. It does not inspire trust, and it does not position the APC to win in 2027,” he said.
Call for National Secretariat Intervention
The group has called on the APC National Secretariat to intervene directly and review the conduct of the primaries in Kwara. According to Olalere, the national leadership must look inwards and prioritize the choice of the people over political convenience if the party hopes to remain competitive in the state.
He argued that with the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] having already picked what he described as a “credible candidate” from Kwara Central, the APC cannot afford to present a candidate who lacks grassroots acceptance and statewide appeal.
“The PDP has made its calculation by picking a credible person from Kwara Central. Political reality in Kwara today is that only a candidate from Kwara Central can win the gubernatorial election in 2027,” Olalere said. “The APC must recognize this reality and act accordingly. If we want to retain Kwara, the party must field the people’s choice.”
Push for Amb. Yahaya Seriki Gambari MFR
YASYA used the opportunity to formally urge the APC National Leadership to consider Ambassador Yahaya Seriki Gambari MFR as the party’s candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election. The group cited Seriki’s experience in diplomacy, his philanthropic track record, and his established grassroots structure across the state as reasons he represents the most viable option for the APC.
“Ambassador Yahaya Seriki Gambari is not new to the politics of Kwara. He has built bridges across communities, supported youth and women empowerment programs, and demonstrated capacity in both public and private sectors. He is the kind of candidate who can unify the party and defeat any opponent in the general election,” Olalere said.
The group pointed to what it called the governor’s initial announcement of Seriki as the preferred candidate, which was reversed less than 24 hours later, as evidence that there is already an understanding within the state that Seriki carries significant political weight.
“That initial announcement was not accidental. It reflected what many in the party and the public already know. Reversing it without clear justification only created confusion and disaffection among party members,” the coordinator added.
Broader Implications for APC in Kwara
YASYA warned that failing to address the concerns raised could have wider implications for the APC’s chances in 2027. The group said many young people and professionals who had mobilized for the party were beginning to question whether their efforts would translate into genuine representation.
“If the APC ignores the voice of its members and imposes candidates without due process, it risks losing the goodwill it has built over the years. The youths are no longer passive. We are organized, we are informed, and we will demand accountability,” Olalere said.
The alliance appealed to the national leadership to conduct a transparent review of the primaries, engage with stakeholders across Kwara, and ensure that the eventual candidate emerges through a process that is free, fair, and credible.
What’s Next
As of press time, the APC National Secretariat has not issued an official statement on the complaints raised by YASYA or on the status of the Kwara primaries conducted under Sen. Obanikoro. Efforts to reach Sen. Obanikoro for comment were unsuccessful.
Political analysts in Ilorin say the development signals early jostling for control of the APC structure ahead of 2027, with Kwara Central expected to be the focal point of the contest.
For now, YASYA says it will continue to mobilize its members and engage with other youth groups to ensure that the demand for a credible candidate remains on the agenda.
“We are not fighting against the party. We are fighting for the party to survive and win. The APC must listen to its base, or it will lose Kwara,” Olalere concluded.
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