Senator Saliu Mustapha has claimed that former Senate President Bukola Saraki is working to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 despite leading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.
Mustapha made the claim during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, shortly after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.
Mustapha speaks on Saraki’s role
The Kwara Central senator alleged that Saraki is supporting the “Rainbow Coalition” working towards Tinubu’s return to office in 2027.
He compared Saraki’s position with that of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who remains a PDP member while serving in the Tinubu administration.
Mustapha also stressed that his own defection to the PDP should not be interpreted as opposition to Tinubu at the national level.
According to him, Saraki is not seeking an elective position in the 2027 elections, a factor he said was important in understanding the former Senate president’s current political activities.
Why Mustapha left APC
Mustapha said his defection was part of a wider move involving members of the G15, Elders’ Caucus, TOPS and Otoge Progressive movement in Kwara.
He disclosed that the groups considered different political platforms before settling for the PDP faction associated with Wike as their preferred platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Asked whether their political battle was specifically against Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Mustapha responded, “Precisely.”
He accused the governor of failing to adequately consult key stakeholders over the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the APC governorship candidate.
Mustapha further claimed that AbdulRazaq had initially favoured Ambassador Yahaya Seriki before Danladi-Salihu emerged within 48 hours.
He rejected claims that Danladi-Salihu’s emergence was backed by the Presidency and argued that competence, rather than zoning, should determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State.
