By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Kwara North in the north central part of Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources, and a large landscape but with little political power. Since the return of Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999, Kwara Central by 2027 would have occupied the office of governor for twenty years, while Kwara South has had it for eight years. However, Kwara North has never produced a governor. Meanwhile, contestants from Kwara Central and Kwara South are currently engaged in the governorship battle with their counterparts from Kwara North.

One of the gubernatorial aspirants from Kwara South, Engr Sunday Adebayo Babalola, a non-executive commissioner-nominee on the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had urged the party to consider capacity and competence while deciding the successor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Last week Monday, elders and stakeholders from Kwara North held a press conference to agitate that it was their turn to produce a governor. The press conference was followed by a mega rally the following day. At the Monday Press Conference, the elders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the five local governments in Kwara North urged the party to concede the 2027 governorship ticket to the zone in the interest of justice, equity, fairness and inclusiveness in the governance of the state.

They made the request in Ilorin with the four gubernatorial aspirants from the zone in attendance. The gubernatorial aspirants are the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Engr Salihu Yakubu Danladi; Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar; Alhaji Tajudeen Audu and Hon Umar Bio.

Spokesperson of the elders and stakeholders, Pharmacist Bio Ibrahim said: “Our position is unequivocal. Kwarans, irrespective of Senatorial zones, gender, religion and age must rise and support our fight against the politics of exclusion in Kwara state.

‘’Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Kwara Central would have produced the governor for twenty years by 2027 when the incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would complete his tenure, while former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed from Kwara South held the office for eight years.

“However, Kwara North has not produced a governor in 28 years. This reality is not just a statistic, it is an imbalance that must now be corrected and ameliorated. In some other areas, the highest office rotates seamlessly among the three senatorial zones. We are aware that Kwara state rests on a tripod of three senatorial districts and for that structure to remain stable and just, each leg must be given a fair opportunity at leadership.

“For nearly three decades, Kwara North has remained the only district yet to occupy the governorship seat. For a state that prides itself as the ‘State of Harmony’ we believe 2027 must mark a turning point to this claim. We therefore call on our great party, the APC to zone its gubernatorial ticket to Kwara North Senatorial District in the interest of justice, equity, fairness and unity.

“This is not a demand borne out of sentiment but it is a reasonable and compelling case grounded in fairness and democratic balance. Giving the opportunity to Kwara North to lead the state will strengthen the bonds of trust across the state and promote a more inclusive system of governance. Kwara North is not lacking in capacity. The district is home to seasoned leaders, accomplished professionals and experienced public servants who are well equipped to govern and deliver meaningful development across all parts of the state.” The former minister also allayed the fears that emergence of one of the aspirants would cause disunity in the senatorial zone.

The following day at the Metropolitan square along Asa Dam road, Ilorin, many residents from the five local governments in Kwara North gathered to further plead their cause and expressed their commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The event, tagged the Kwara North Mega Rally, was described as a defining moment for unity and political alignment in Kwara State as elders, monarchs, chieftains of the party, current and past political office holders took turns addressing the massive crowd comprising youths, women and men of different platforms.

A chieftain of the party, Dr Mahmud Umar Muhammad, popularly known as Sodangi Etsu Patigi, who spoke at the gathering, described the turnout as a strong signal of unity and determination among the people of Kwara North. “What we are witnessing here today is not just politics; it is the unity of purpose. Kwara North has spoken clearly, and we are speaking with one voice for progress, for inclusion, and for 2027,” he said.

He further declared support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, affirming that the president’s leadership continues to inspire confidence among party faithful across the state. Tinubu was strongly endorsed at the rally, with participants chanting solidarity messages and pledging continued support for his administration.

Dr Mahmud emphasized that the growing unity within Kwara North Senatorial District must be sustained beyond electoral cycles, stressing that the region’s political relevance depends on cohesion and strategic engagement.

“The strength of Kwara North lies in our togetherness. When we stand united, we are not ignored. This rally is proof that our future is bright if we remain focused,” he added. Dr Mahmud then urged continued cohesion among political actors in Kwara North, insisting that the region’s aspirations for 2027 must be pursued with discipline, unity and sustained engagement.

One of the APC stakeholders, who also spoke at the event, Issa Bio Ibrahim, a former minister of transportation, assured that the state would vote for the re-election of Tinubu. He however urged that the north district in the state should be supported by other districts in its bid to produce the next governor of the state.

Another APC stakeholder, Mumin Katibi, a former commissioner for information in the state, highlighted how the district had been supporting the APC in governorship elections since 2015 that the party had been winning the elections in the state. He said that the district had always been giving the party the second highest number of votes after the central district.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers from the district, the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Kudu, said the district having not produced a governor since 1999 ought to be considered by the next election in the interest of justice and fairness.

He said the traditional rulers in the zone had met with their colleague traditional rulers in the south who had shown understanding on their demand. He said they would also meet with the Emir of Ilorin in the central district on the matter with the hope that their case would receive sympathy from the monarch.

He noted that the district still voted APC with the governorship candidate from the central district in 2023 even when a politician from the northern zone was the candidate of another party.

He said the district did that because the APC candidate then was incumbent governor who was seeking re-election and who had done a lot in the development of the district in his first term. He then urged that the APC should in the next election concede its governorship ticket to the district.

APC governorship aspirants from the district were among many other stakeholders who attended the rally. The aspirants include, Alhaji Mohammed Mariam Alhassan; Senator Sodiq Suleiman, the incumbent senator representing the district; Yakubu Danladi, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly; Tajudeen Audi and Omar Bio.

Alhaji Mohammed Mariam Alhassan, in his speech said: “At this critical moment, we must reject every attempt to distort our collective aspiration through deceptive political engineering. We must resist the normalization of exclusion and speak firmly against any structure that seeks to silence credible voices. The future of Kwara North cannot and must not be determined by a few individuals acting outside the collective will of the people.”

Alhassan further called on all stakeholders, leaders, and members of the party, to rise above narrow interests and recommit themselves to a process that is open, fair, and inclusive. Let us reject manipulation in all its forms and insist on a level playing field for all aspirants. “Let us protect the integrity of our political process and ensure that no one is sidelined or marginalized in the pursuit of personal ambition. Because at the end of the day, any victory achieved through exclusion is hollow, and any leadership that emerges from injustice will struggle to unite the people.” he said.

The post 2027: Kwara North battles injustice, says ‘It’s our turn to be governor’ appeared first on Vanguard News.

www.vanguardngr.com