The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on Monday endorsed the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State.

The first-class monarch attributed his support to the leadership and performance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and prayed for the party's success in the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement came when leaders of the ruling party, accompanied by its governorship, National Assembly and Kwara State House of Assembly candidates, paid a courtesy visit to the Emir's Palace in Ilorin to seek royal blessings ahead of the elections.

Addressing the delegation, the Emir commended Governor AbdulRazaq's performance in office, describing his achievements across the state as visible and deserving of recognition.

"The forecourt of my palace has been filled up with your supporters since the morning. Is today the voting day or you only came for familiarisation?" the Emir said amid laughter.

He added: "Whoever sees good things and chooses not to say it is insincere. There is no hidden place for lies. Let us call a spade a spade. What we are seeing on the ground is a reality. Whoever does good, let us say it. The Governor has performed well."

The monarch thereafter offered prayers for Governor AbdulRazaq and all APC candidates.

"Starting from Governor AbdulRazaq to other candidates of the party, God will grant you all electoral success. May you not be put to shame," he prayed.

The APC delegation was led by the State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, and included the party's governorship candidate and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, senatorial candidates, House of Representatives candidates and flagbearers for the State House of Assembly elections.

Speaking with journalists after the visit, Danladi dismissed concerns over divisions within the party, expressing confidence that aggrieved members would eventually unite behind the APC.

"Democracy is an aggregation of interests. By the grace of God, all of us will be guided and we will jointly support Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move Kwara and Nigeria forward," he said.

He disclosed that efforts were ongoing to reconcile dissatisfied stakeholders through a committee established by the party.

"Where there is peace, there is development. Let us come to the round table and, by God's grace, we will carry each and every one of them along. APC is big and there are a lot of positive things happening in the party. The reconciliation committee has been set up and I know it will do justice to the issues," he added.

Danladi also expressed confidence that the APC would retain all elective positions in Kwara State.

"By the grace of God, 35-0 is assured and APC will carry the day once again," he said, attributing his optimism to the widespread support the party continues to enjoy across the state.

Earlier, Prince Fagbemi informed the Emir that all APC candidates emerged through primary elections conducted by the party's national headquarters in line with its constitution and guidelines.

He appealed to the traditional ruler to continue praying for the unity of the party and the success of its candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The palace visit came amid heightened tensions within the Kwara APC following a protest by the G15 coalition of party stakeholders, who challenged the emergence of some candidates and alleged a lack of consultation in the party's affairs.

The coalition had appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to intervene, insisting that no valid governorship candidate had emerged.

However, the APC leadership has maintained that its primaries were duly conducted in accordance with the party's constitution and guidelines.