Senator Saliu Mustapha Dumps APC Over Lack of Internal Democracy

The political crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has reached a breaking point. Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has officially resigned from the ruling party, citing a complete collapse of internal democracy.

Mustapha, a founding member of the party, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 14, 2026. His exit follows weeks of intense consultations with constituents, supporters, and key stakeholders across the state.

A Standing Defense of Internal Democracy

Senator Mustapha’s resignation stems from what he described as a total departure from the core values of internal democracy, unity, and accountability within the Kwara APC chapter.

The decision comes weeks after he lost the APC governorship ticket to Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. For Mustapha and his supporters, the handling of the party’s internal processes abandoned the basic principles of internal democracy.

In his official statement, Mustapha highlighted key reasons for stepping away:

• Principles Over Party: Politics must remain centered on people, principles, and purpose rather than staying on a platform that ignores internal democracy.
• Unbroken Commitment: Leaving the party will not alter his dedication or service to the people of Kwara Central.
• Eroded Confidence: The current leadership in Kwara State has fallen short of standard integrity, destroying trust among long-standing members.

Immediate Grassroots Ripple Effects

Senator Mustapha’s exit has sent shockwaves through the Kwara APC, triggering immediate fallout at the local level. Within hours of his resignation, 12 ward executive members from Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East also dumped the party, proving how ignoring internal democracy can quickly destroy party structures from the ground up.

With attention shifting to Mustapha’s next political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling party faces growing uncertainty.

What This Means for 2027

The departure of a prominent founding member exposes a ongoing problem for the ruling party: when a political organization fails to practice internal democracy, key leaders and thousands of loyal supporters will inevitably look elsewhere.

As political realignments accelerate ahead of 2027, the APC in Kwara State now faces a heavily divided house—proving once again that no party can maintain unity without respecting internal democracy.