Saraki Faces New Hurdles as Kwara APC Splits into Factions

NEWS DIGEST – Two factions have emerged in the ongoing state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Kwara State.

The NEWS DIGEST gathered that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senate President, Bukola Saraki control a faction while Moshood Mustapha, an ex-Commissioner and House of Representatives member also controls another faction.

The Moshood Mustapha led faction held its congress at the Arca Santa Arena, Ilorin where a new party chairman was elected for the faction. Meanwhile, another congress that had in attendance Senator Saraki, Governor Ahmed amongst other top personalities was held at the Kwara State Banquet Hall.

When contacted by the NEWS DIGEST, the Mashood Mustapha’s factional chairman, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa said Saraki and the Governor are no longer recognised in Kwara APC.

Bolarinwa said: “Being a governor doesn’t make you acceptable to the people as you can see Saraki even with his treatment at the national level is no longer relevant in Kwara state politics.”

The faction which claimed to be loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, said their members were against mishandling of the affairs of the party in the state.

A close aide to the senate president who spoke the NEWS DIGEST  said the Moshood Mustapha’s faction is not recognised by the national secretariat of the party.

The aide who craved anonymity said: “That’s not a congress, may be a meeting of jolly friends. If it’s a congress you will see party officers from the headquarters sent to monitor it; you will see election materials sent from headquarters and you will see INEC officers present supervising the election process. None of these are available in Moshood Mustapha and Ganiyu Olododo meeting. So it’s not a congress but a meeting of disgruntled party member.”