The Kwara All Progressives Congress, APC, aggrieved governorship aspirants group known as G15, now rebranded as The Otoge Progressives, TOP, has dismissed claims of internal division and reaffirmed its unity ahead of the 2027 political season.

The group, which gathered in Ilorin in a meeting that brought together its leaders and stakeholders, said reports suggesting a crack within its ranks were false and being sponsored by political opponents.

Speaking on behalf of the movement, its spokesperson and former Senator representing Kwara Central, Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe, said the G15 remains intact and more united than ever, stressing that the rebranding from G15 to TOP was not a sign of crisis but of growth.

According to him, the movement which originally comprised ten APC governorship aspirants, members of the National Assembly, party elders and other stakeholders, has expanded rapidly since its emergence in June, necessitating a broader identity to accommodate more leaders and grassroots members who share its ideals.

“The transition from G15 to The Otoge Progressives became necessary to provide a broader platform for individuals who share our vision of strengthening internal democracy, promoting inclusive politics and sustaining the principles upon which the Otoge movement of 2019 was founded,” Oloriegbe said.

The group described the recent claims by the camp of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq that some of its grassroots mobilisers have returned to the APC mainstream as propaganda.

Oloriegbe insisted that the core leadership of the movement remains committed to its shared objectives, which include collective interest, inclusive leadership, and preservation of the Otoge ideals.

The group emerged following opposition to the APC governorship primary that produced the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, as the party’s governorship candidate for 2027. The group had alleged imposition and lack of internal democracy.

While reaffirming loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC at the national level, the coalition has continued to call for a more inclusive and credible process in Kwara, urging the National Working Committee to intervene to ensure justice and fairness.

Members of the group also described their emerging arrangement as a “Rainbow Coalition” involving different political interests across the state, insisting that despite attempts to weaken it, TOP remains the majority tendency within the Kwara APC.

The meeting ended with a renewed pledge to remain united, mobilise at the grassroots, and pursue dialogue and reconciliation without compromising on the principles of internal democracy and collective leadership.