The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has suffered a fresh setback following the resignation of 12 ward executives in Gambari Ward 1, Ilorin East Local Government Area, shortly after Senator Saliu Mustapha left the party.

The affected officials, including the ward chairman and secretary, announced their resignation from both their positions and membership of the APC within hours of Mustapha’s defection.

The ward chairman, Aliyu Abdulhakeem, and secretary, Abdulwaheed Adanla, separately communicated their decisions to the APC chairman in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Habib Ajibola, on Friday.

Ten other members of the ward executive subsequently submitted a joint resignation letter on Saturday.

In their letter, the executives said their decision followed careful consideration of what they described as the best interest of their ward.

They also indicated that they would join Senator Mustapha in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aligning with what they described as an emerging “rainbow coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District, resigned from the APC after citing concerns over recent developments and leadership within the party in Kwara State.

He subsequently joined the PDP and secured the party’s ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat in the 2027 election.

The resignation of the 12 ward executives represents an immediate grassroots consequence of Mustapha’s departure and could trigger further political realignments in Kwara, particularly in Kwara Central, as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.

It remains unclear whether more APC officials and supporters will follow the defecting executives and Senator Mustapha to the PDP.

The development has nevertheless added a new dimension to the political contest in Kwara, with Mustapha’s departure potentially reshaping the balance of forces ahead of the 2027 elections.