From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The race for the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State, is gathering momentum within the All Progressives Congress (APC), as no fewer than 16 aspirants have signalled interest in securing the party’s ticket.
Findings indicate that the growing list cuts across political heavyweights, technocrats and grassroots mobilisers, reflecting what party insiders describe as “an early but intense contest for power.”
Among the prominent contenders are three serving senators: Saliu Mustapha representing Kwara Central, Lola Ashiru from Kwara South, and Sadiq Umar representing Kwara North.
Also in the mix are key political figures within the state, including the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, former APC state chairman, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, and former campaign Director-General to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki. A chartered accountant, Tajudeen Audu, has also joined the contest.
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In a significant development, five appointees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are also eyeing the APC ticket. They include Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abubakar Suleiman; Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Wale Sulaiman; Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Authority, Ibrahim Oloriegbe; and Non-Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Sunday Adebayo Babalola.
The contest has also attracted new entrants from diverse backgrounds, including Canada-based geologist Abdulmujib Olaniyi, Global President of Offa Descendants Union, Azeez Salako, former Kwara PDP Youth Leader, Haliru Mahmud Dantsoho, and Ahmed Baba.
A party source familiar with the development said the wide spread of aspirants across the three senatorial districts reflects “the growing interest in consolidating APC’s hold on Kwara beyond 2027.”
However, uncertainty remains over whether the party will adopt zoning, particularly amid renewed agitation from stakeholders in Kwara North seeking to produce the next governor.
“The issue of zoning will be critical. Kwara North has been vocal, and the party leadership will have to manage this carefully to avoid internal cracks,” the source added.
Political observers say the coming months will test the cohesion of the APC in the state, as consultations and alignments intensify ahead of the primaries.
