It has come to the attention of the public that the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, is allegedly attempting to undermine democratic principles in the ongoing political process within the Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency.
It is no longer news that the APC primary election for the House of Representatives is taking place nationwide today, with clear guidelines and procedures already established by the National Working Committee of the party. These guidelines were designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and internal democracy.
However, it is deeply disturbing that Hon. Danladi, driven by excessive political ambition and personal interests, is reportedly interfering in the democratic decision of stakeholders from Kaiama Local Government. The stakeholders of Kaiama, after broad consultations and unanimous agreement, adopted Hon. Aliyu Muhammed Sheifudeen as their consensus candidate. Yet, Hon. Danladi, who is neither a stakeholder nor a political actor from Kaiama Local Government, allegedly imposed Hon. Sadiu Ba’aba against the collective will of the people.
This action represents a clear abuse of political influence and a direct disrespect to the democratic rights of the people of Kaiama. Credible information reaching us further indicates that the Speaker allegedly instructed the APC Chairman in Baruten Local Government to direct all ward chairmen to vote in favour of Hon. Saidu Ba’aba, rather than allowing delegates to freely exercise their constitutional and democratic rights.
If this allegation is true, then it is not only unacceptable but also a dangerous precedent capable of destroying party unity and public confidence in the democratic process.
It is important to recall that similar accusations of political manipulation and imposition emerged during the last local government elections. Democracy cannot thrive where intimidation, coercion, and abuse of office are allowed to prevail unchecked.
It is both ironic and unfortunate that a political figure who allegedly failed to adequately represent and unify his own constituency now seeks to dictate the political direction of another federal constituency where he has no legitimate mandate.
We therefore call on the Executive Governor of Kwara State, the APC State Chairman, and the National Working Committee of the party to urgently intervene before this situation escalates further. The integrity of the democratic process must be protected, and the voices of the people must not be silenced by personal ambition or political overreach.
Democracy must be allowed to flourish.
