The senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, has expressed confidence that he would defeat Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq if the governor contests the senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.

Mustapha made the claim during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, shortly after the governor’s media aide, Ibraheem Abdullateef, dismissed allegations surrounding the strained relationship between the two politicians.

Asked whether he believed he could defeat AbdulRazaq in a contest for the Kwara Central Senate seat, Mustapha responded confidently, saying the result would be evident shortly after voting began.

“I will defeat him before 12 noon,” the senator said.

Mustapha recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he is seeking another term as senator amid political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections.

Explaining his defection, the senator said the decision was not taken independently but was reached collectively by members of the political group known as G15.

He also alleged that his growing political influence had become a source of concern to AbdulRazaq and contributed to the deterioration of their relationship.

Mustapha’s remarks followed a statement by Abdullateef, who rejected claims made by the senator’s Executive Assistant, Abdulkareem Alabi, that the governor had stopped communicating with Mustapha or had played a role in his failure to secure the APC governorship ticket.

The governor’s aide maintained that AbdulRazaq and Mustapha still interacted and described as false the claim that the governor had blocked the senator’s telephone line following a reconciliation meeting involving traditional and religious leaders.

Abdullateef cited their joint attendance at the most recent Eid prayer, saying Mustapha had invited the governor to accompany him.

He also disputed the claim that AbdulRazaq was responsible for Mustapha losing the APC governorship ticket, arguing that the decision was made by President Bola Tinubu.

According to the governor’s aide, there was also no agreement between AbdulRazaq and Mustapha to exchange political positions ahead of 2027.

Abdullateef alleged that Mustapha’s own actions contributed to the loss of his governorship ambition, claiming that he misrepresented his discussions with the governor to the President.

He said the development subsequently paved the way for AbdulRazaq to select his preferred governorship candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

Mustapha, however, rejected another allegation involving a purported 2022 letter in which he was said to have committed himself to serving only one term in the Senate.

The document, dated May 21, 2022, and addressed to AbdulRazaq, allegedly contained a pledge by Mustapha to spend a single four-year term in the Senate, remain loyal to the governor and follow his directives during and after his tenure.

Mustapha dismissed the circulating document as fraudulent, saying the version in circulation was not the letter he signed.

He acknowledged that he wrote a letter in 2022 but said the contents of the original had been altered.

According to him, the genuine letter stated that his intention was to use one Senate term as a stepping stone towards seeking a higher political office, which at the time was the governorship of Kwara State.

Mustapha also denied entering into any agreement with AbdulRazaq to serve only one term as senator.

He further alleged that discussions about his political future began after concerns were raised within the governor’s camp over his growing popularity and the possibility of reserving the Kwara Central Senate seat for a member of the AbdulRazaq family.

Mustapha said he was initially receptive to the arrangement because his focus at the time was on contesting the governorship in 2027.

He alleged that the controversial document was subsequently produced or altered as part of an attempt to weaken his political ambitions.

The senator maintained that he remained confident in his political strength and his prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.