Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing concerns over the party’s leadership and internal democracy in Kwara State.

Mustapha announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC ward chairman in Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.

He said the decision followed “careful reflection and extensive consultations” with his constituents and key stakeholders.

The senator, who is a founding member of the APC, said recent developments within the party, particularly under its leadership in Kwara, had deviated from the principles of collective unity and internal democracy upon which the party was founded.

“I believe political leadership must be anchored on integrity, competence, accountability and a sincere commitment to the collective interest of the people,” Mustapha said.

“The current leadership of the party in Kwara State have fallen short of these standards, and this have eroded my confidence in them.”

Mustapha’s resignation comes after his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

He had obtained the party’s nomination form and participated in the governorship primary held on May 22. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, won the primary with 94,990 votes, defeating Abdulfatai Seriki, who polled 41,700 votes, while Bashir Bolarinwa came third with 22,118 votes.

Mustapha was among the aspirants and party stakeholders who subsequently called for a review of the primary alongside the two other serving Kwara senators.

In June, Mustapha, Oyelola Ashiru and Sadiq Umar called for urgent reconciliation within the APC, alleging that legitimate stakeholders had been excluded from key decision-making processes.

His exit from the APC also follows the emergence of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the party’s preferred candidate for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

AbdulRazaq was reportedly the only aspirant to purchase the APC nomination and expression-of-interest forms for the ticket, putting him on course to succeed Mustapha in the Senate after completing his second term as governor in May 2027.

Despite his resignation, Mustapha said his decision would not affect his commitment to his constituents or the state.

“I remain fully committed to serving the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria with integrity, dedication and in the best interest of humanity,” he said.

Reports indicate that Mustapha is considering joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the 2027 election against AbdulRazaq.