By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
Political crisis is currently rocking Dr Bukola Saraki leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state as two factional gubernatorial candidates have emerged.
While Saraki led leadership, tied to Wike-faction, penultimate Sunday announced Engineer Kale Kawu Agaka as its governorship flag bearer via consensus, Alh Ladi Hassan yesterday emerged as the Turaki-led gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Kwara state.
Speaking on the development, the state secretary of the PDP, Kayode Abdulrahman, said that the factional PDP governorship candidate was sponsored by non-PDP members in the state to destabilise the party.
The party secretary said that Mr. Ladi Hassan got nomination form from the PDP and participated in the party’s governorship primaries where he lost.
“For him to have gone to emerge as a governorship candidate in the fake PDP that’s not recognized by the INEC speaks volumes. He must have been sponsored by people outside our party. But I assure you they can’t succeed”he lamented.
Contacted,Alh Ladi Hassan who confirmed the development added that his candidacy was affirmed after primary of Taminu-Turaki led faction held in Abuja.
“Our primary took place in Abuja and I emerged through affirmation. That was what happened,” he said.
Political observers have, however, warned that the split could severely undermine the PDP’s ability to present a united front in Kwara, a state the opposition is keen to reclaim.
Party stakeholders and supporters have begun calling for urgent reconciliation, but with both factions digging in, attention is now turning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the courts to determine which candidate if any will legally represent the PDP in the 2027 governorship race.
The latest development is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in Kwara State as preparations for the general elections gather momentum.
