Kwara South stakeholders reject alleged succession plan in APC

Stakeholders from Kwara South Senatorial District have raised concerns over the unfolding succession politics within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They insisted that the 2027 governorship seat should be ceded to the southern axis of the state in the “interest of fairness and political inclusion“. They expressed concern over the alleged “attempts to retain […]

Stakeholders from Kwara South Senatorial District have raised concerns over the unfolding succession politics within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

They insisted that the 2027 governorship seat should be ceded to the southern axis of the state in the “interest of fairness and political inclusion“.

They expressed concern over the alleged “attempts to retain political power within Kwara Central beyond the tenure of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq”.

In a statement signed by the President of Orisun Igbomina, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, the group said recent developments within the APC suggested the emergence of a predetermined political arrangement ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The statement referenced reports of Governor AbdulRazaq endorsement of Ambassador Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor.

It warned that such a move should not be interpreted as the collective position of Kwarans without broader consultation across the state.

“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.

It cited reports that several governorship aspirants within the APC had stepped down in support of the governor’s alleged preferred candidate.

According to the group, the political developments point to an attempt to retain the governorship in Kwara Central for another eight years after the current administration.

They argued that such an arrangement would further extend the prolonged political dominance by one senatorial district.

“Kwara Central had previously occupied the governorship seat for twelve uninterrupted years under the administrations of late Governor Mohammed Lawal and former Governor Bukola Saraki. The present administration has already added another eight years from the same axis..

“Any further extension would effectively amount to nearly three decades of continuous political dominance by one senatorial district”, the statement added.

The group maintained that no part of the state should be permanently excluded from producing the governor in a democratic setting built on fairness and political accommodation.

It said the continued participation of governorship aspirants from Kwara South, represented a legitimate democratic effort to protect the political interests of the region.

According to them, the district played a significant role in the success of the 2019 “Otoge” political movement that brought the APC to power in the state.

The statement called on political stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups and other democratic actors to support a fair and inclusive leadership arrangement in 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,” the group stated.

The stakeholders warned that attempts to impose predetermined political outcomes could deepen divisions within the ruling party and undermine confidence in its internal democratic process.