The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has challenged former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki to formalize his political engagement at the state level, rather than maintaining informal ties with party structures in Abuja.
Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Kwara APC Chairman, spoke to Sunday Vanguard, insisting that Saraki should align himself under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s leadership in the state if he intends to remain politically relevant. The comments come in response to recent remarks by Professor Abubabar Sulyman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), who suggested Saraki had been “hobnobbing” with APC officials in the nation’s capital.
Describing Saraki as “treacherous and self-centred,” Fagbemi claimed these traits prompted some of the former Senate President’s supporters to defect to the APC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). However, he stressed that the party did not intend to amplify the matter publicly, labelling it a “non-issue” given Saraki’s diminished influence in Kwara following two successive electoral defeats.
Fagbemi further questioned Saraki’s loyalty, recalling the former Senate President’s manoeuvres during his rise to power as Senate President. He suggested that the continued outreach to APC leaders in Abuja is a survival strategy now that Saraki no longer wields access to state government resources.
“The former Senate President should summon the political will to join our party in Kwara State under our leader and performing governor,” Fagbemi said. “If he is confident in his political moves, there is nothing stopping him from formally becoming part of the APC here.”
The chairman concluded that while Saraki’s actions do not currently threaten the APC in Kwara, formal commitment at the state level would clarify his political intentions and demonstrate loyalty to local constituents.
