The lingering leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist in Kwara State, as rival factions of the party have produced separate governorship candidates for the 2027 general election, exposing deep divisions that could threaten the opposition party’s chances of reclaiming power from the ruling APC.
The development comes barely a week after the party appeared to have reached a hard-fought consensus aimed at presenting a united front ahead of the next election cycle.
However, the emergence of parallel candidates has now thrown the PDP into fresh uncertainty and renewed concerns over its internal cohesion.
The mainstream PDP structure in the state had earlier endorsed Engr. Kale Kawu as its consensus governorship candidate following extensive consultations among party stakeholders. The decision was championed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who described the arrangement as a demonstration of sacrifice, unity, and commitment to rebuilding the party.
But in a dramatic turn of events, a rival faction aligned with the national PDP bloc led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki announced Alhaji Ladi Hassan as its own governorship flag-bearer, creating a parallel structure and setting the stage for a potentially damaging internal battle.
Hassan, a prominent party member and long-time political ally of Saraki, confirmed his emergence during a telephone interview, insisting that he was the duly chosen candidate of the Turaki-led faction.
“Yes, I am with the Turaki-led faction and yes, I am their candidate,” Hassan stated, adding that he would provide further details during a formal media briefing.
While declining to comment extensively on how the division could affect the PDP’s electoral prospects, Hassan maintained confidence in the legitimacy of his emergence and said the faction would address all outstanding issues at the appropriate time.
The latest development has surprised many observers because Hassan was among the aspirants who had previously agreed to support the consensus arrangement that produced Kawu. Political analysts say his emergence under a rival platform raises questions about the durability of agreements reached within the party and highlights the extent to which the national leadership dispute has filtered down to state chapters.
Observers believe the crisis reflects broader tensions within the PDP at the national level, where competing leadership blocs have continued to struggle for control of the party’s structure and decision-making processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the factional primary, the recognised Kwara PDP leadership dismissed the exercise as illegitimate and accused external forces of attempting to destabilise the party from within.
State Secretary, Kayode Abdulrahman, argued that the process that produced Hassan lacked legal standing and was not recognised by the party’s official structure or the electoral authorities.
According to Abdulrahman, Hassan participated in the PDP governorship selection process but failed to secure the party’s ticket before aligning himself with what he described as a faction not recognised by the electoral commission.
“For him to have gone to emerge as a governorship candidate in the fake PDP that’s not recognised by INEC speaks volumes,” Abdulrahman said.
He further alleged that the factional exercise was being sponsored by interests outside the party and expressed confidence that such efforts would ultimately fail.
Political observers warn that unless the dispute is resolved quickly, the PDP could enter the 2027 election season weakened by internal divisions, potentially benefiting the ruling APC.
The emergence of parallel candidates may also trigger legal battles over party legitimacy, candidate recognition, and control of the PDP structure in Kwara State.
With both camps standing firmly behind their candidates, attention is now turning to the national leadership of the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose eventual recognition of party structures and candidates could prove decisive in determining the outcome of the dispute.
As the crisis unfolds, many party loyalists are calling for reconciliation efforts to prevent further fragmentation and preserve the PDP’s chances of mounting a credible challenge in Kwara’s increasingly competitive political landscape.
