Political leaders from Kwara South are pushing back against what they call a predetermined succession plan within the APC. They want the 2027 governorship ticket reserved for their senatorial district.
Chief Gbenga Awoyale, president of Orisun Igbomina, signed a statement raising alarm bells this week. He cited reports that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has endorsed Ambassador Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki as his successor.
The group says such endorsements shouldn't be treated as the will of all Kwarans. They're demanding wider consultation before any candidate is presented as the people's choice.
"While no one disputes the constitutional right of the governor or any political actor to support an aspirant of choice, we believe such a critical decision cannot and should not be presented as the collective position of the people of Kwara State without wider consultation and genuine consensus-building," the statement read.
According to the stakeholders, several APC aspirants have already dropped out in support of the governor's preferred candidate. That's a red flag, they say, pointing to a power-retention scheme.
Kwara Central has held the governorship for 20 consecutive years already. Late Governor Mohammed Lawal and former Governor Bukola Saraki ruled for 12 years combined before AbdulRazaq took over eight years ago.
If the trend continues, one region will have controlled the state house for nearly three decades. The group argues this violates basic principles of democratic fairness.
"Any further extension would effectively amount to nearly three decades of continuous political dominance by one senatorial district," they noted in the statement.
Kwara South leaders won't accept permanent exclusion from the governorship rotation. They believe every section of the state deserves a turn at leadership.
The region played a crucial role in the 2019 "Otoge" movement that swept the APC to power. Now they want recognition for their political contributions and loyalty.
Political stakeholders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders need to champion a more inclusive process. That's what the group is urging across Kwara State.
"This is not a campaign against any individual, senatorial district, or political tendency. It is a principled call for justice, inclusiveness, and a political process that gives every section of Kwara State a genuine sense of belonging," Awoyale's group stated.
They warned that imposing predetermined outcomes risks fracturing the APC internally. Public confidence in the party's democratic processes could suffer badly.
The south must have its turn, stakeholders insist, if the ruling party hopes to maintain unity. Anything less would be unfair to the region and divisive for Kwara.
