Mustapha said his resignation was prompted by recent developments within the Kwara State chapter of the APC, stressing that he did not take the decision lightly.

“Following careful consideration of the recent developments in the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, I have formally resigned my membership of the party in the state,” he stated.

The senator said he had engaged relevant stakeholders and constituents before deciding to leave the ruling party.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly. It follows weeks of extensive consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders, my supporters, constituents across Kwara Central Senatorial District, and well-meaning Kwarans,” he added.

Mustapha, who was elected to the Senate on the APC platform, said his political decisions had always been guided by his belief that politics should be centred on people, principles and purpose.

“As a politician, I have always believed that politics must be about people, principles and purpose.

“Where the path of a political platform no longer sufficiently aligns with these convictions and the aspirations of the people one represents, the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course,” he said.

He, however, thanked the APC leadership under President Bola Tinubu for the relationships and experiences he gained during his membership of the party.

“To the leadership of the APC ably led by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I express my deepest gratitude for the relationships and experiences I have been afforded over the years,” he stated.

The senator also assured his supporters, political associates and constituents that his resignation from the APC would not affect his commitment to representing them.

“To my constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders in Kwara State and beyond, I assure you that while my political platform may ch

While commending Tinubu for his leadership and support for the APC before and after the election, the group argued that the party’s loss occurred despite the President’s backing.

It specifically accused Oyetola of dominating the distribution of federal appointments and the selection of electoral candidates, allegedly favouring his allies, associates and people from his political circle.

The group stated, “We respectfully submit that the principal reason for our defeat was the conduct of the immediate past governor of the state and Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.”

The group also attached a list of individuals it claimed had benefited from federal appointments under the political structure associated with the former governor.

Among those listed were Oyetola; the APC governorship candidate and Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji; his running mate, Benjamin Adereti; and Dayo Babaranti, identified as an Executive Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation.

The list also included Fatai Adeyemi, Adeniran Aderogba, Lekan Badmus, Charles Akindiji, Ayo Omidiran, Nike Omoworare, Dayo Eluyemi, Segun Fanibe, Rotimi Makinde, Remi Omowaiye, Kayode Sowade, Taiwo Olaiya, Amidu Tadese, Oladele Gboyega, Festus Olowogboyega, Obawale Adebisi, Taiwo Oluga, Bosun Oyintiloye and Sunday Akere.

The forum further claimed that 31 local government Renewed Hope Ambassadors and 332 ward-level Renewed Hope Ambassadors were appointed from what it described as the same political tendency.

Beyond appointments, the group alleged that Oyetola had a significant influence over the selection of the party’s candidates for elective positions.

It said the alleged process covered the governorship and deputy governorship tickets, three senatorial seats, nine House of Representatives positions and 26 State House of Assembly seats.

According to the stakeholders, the alleged concentration of appointments and political opportunities alienated sections of the party’s grassroots and weakened its support across the state.

The letter stated, “We believe this pattern of exclusion left the party’s base disengaged and cost us the support of critical stakeholders and communities across the state’s three senatorial districts, contributing directly to our defeat on August 15.”

The Osun APC Stakeholders Forum urged Tinubu to order an independent assessment of the party’s leadership structure in the state and the process through which candidates were selected for the election.

It also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved members, with the APC National Working Committee providing oversight.

The group further demanded a review of the distribution of federal appointments in Osun and the establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate the party’s primary elections and complaints reportedly raised by some stakeholders.

The group said future candidate selection should be based on wider consultations rather than the decision of an individual political leader.

It equally called for federal appointments and future electoral tickets to be distributed across Osun’s three senatorial districts and among the different tendencies within the party.

The results came a day after the Coalition of Opposition Parties in Bauchi State announced it was withdrawing from the election entirely. The coalition accused organisers of designing the exercise to benefit the ruling APM, and urged members not to participate.

Governor Bala Mohammed pushed back on those claims shortly after casting his own vote, describing the electoral process as peaceful. He said the withdrawal of opposition parties did not affect the validity or legitimacy of the outcome.

The Bauchi State Government had declared Monday a work-free day across the state to allow civil servants and other public workers, including those at the local government, state, and federal levels, as well as banking sector employees, to participate in the election.