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By Abdullah Ahmed
Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engineer Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD), has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following a sweeping victory at the party’s primary election.
Danladi secured 94,990 votes to defeat his closest challengers, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who polled 41,700 votes, and Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, who garnered 22,118 votes.
Chairman of the Kwara APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, announced the results on Friday evening.
The high-stake primary witnessed massive participation by party leaders, stakeholders and members across the three senatorial districts, with overwhelming support recorded for the Speaker.
Field reports indicated that Danladi dominated voting in major areas of Ilorin, including Alanamu, Ajikobi, Ojuekun, Adewole, Ibagun and Gambari, while all the five local government areas in Kwara North reportedly returned more than 90 per cent of their votes in his favour.
In Kwara South, local government areas such as Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Oke Ero and Ifelodun also recorded strong support for the APC candidate.
Other aspirants and their scores include Engr. Femi Sani with 5,519 votes; Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, 3,920; Dele Belgore, 3,411; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2,434; Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, 1,722; Mohamed Bio, 1,122; and Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, 1,099 votes.
Speaking shortly after his emergence, Danladi described his victory as a collective success for all members of the party, stressing that there was “no winner and no loser” in the APC.
“We need to thank God Almighty for where we are. In APC, we are all one. There is no winner, there is no loser. We are all winners,” he said.
The APC candidate expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting his emergence, describing the development as historic for the Borgu Kingdom.
According to him, it is the first time since 1999 that the Borgu Kingdom would produce a governorship candidate from a ruling party.
Danladi also commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his leadership and contributions to the development of the state.
He pledged to sustain and build on the achievements of the present administration if elected governor.
“We are part and parcel of this administration. As Speaker for almost seven years, I have been part of the policies of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Legacy continues and our state will be better for it,” he added.
