From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has described the state as a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued to lose ground since the 2019 general elections.
AbdulRazaq said the APC’s growing popularity, coupled with the decision of the PDP’s national leader and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to serve on the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), would strengthen the ruling party’s chances of victory in the state.
The governor spoke in Ilorin on Sunday, while receiving a delegation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council led by its Director-General, Senator Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
The delegation also paid homage to the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR.
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The team included several former governors, former members of the National Assembly and former party executives, among them Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, Adamu Aleiro of Kebbi State, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Sani Yerima of Zamfara State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State. Others were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and Olubunmi Ette.
AbdulRazaq commended the composition of the council, expressing confidence in the experience, capacity and contributions of its members to nation-building.
He also appreciated the delegation for engaging with key political stakeholders in the state, including the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi; his running mate, Hon. Seun Oguniyi Adato; other top government officials; and the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi.
“We know that you have been going around the country, hitting the ground running. Even before your inauguration, you were already out doing your work. That shows the seriousness with which you have approached the job,” the governor said at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin.
He congratulated members of the delegation on their appointment to what he described as the highest organ of the party’s campaign, noting that their nomination reflected the party’s recognition of their capabilities and contributions.
On the APC’s political strength in Kwara, AbdulRazaq maintained that the party remained firmly in control, arguing that the PDP had become increasingly weakened.
“It is important for you to know, as you hit the ground running with your campaign, that Kwara is solidly on the APC’s side of defence. The leader of the PDP has made our job much easier.
“The balance of the equation here is 70-30: 70 per cent for the APC and 30 per cent for the PDP. That has been consistent since 2019, and nothing has changed except that the PDP has continued to weaken,” he said.
The governor added that Wike’s membership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and his reported position on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid could further improve the party’s electoral prospects.
“With the national leader of the PDP being a member of our campaign council and declaring that his party, the PDP, will vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it means that the PDP’s 30 per cent, alongside our 70 per cent, is now adding up to 100 per cent.
“This will be one of the easiest states for our party because the two main parties in the state are voting for President Tinubu,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor also highlighted his administration’s efforts to address infrastructural deficiencies and improve critical sectors, particularly education, healthcare and the civil service.
He cited the introduction of KwaraLEARN, a technology-driven teaching initiative in public primary schools, as one of the administration’s achievements, saying the programme had helped reduce teacher absenteeism and improve learning outcomes.
AbdulRazaq recalled the challenges his administration inherited in 2019, particularly unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities, but said the situation had improved considerably under his leadership.
“You are a regular visitor to this state, and you must have seen the changes. When we came in 2019, it was a challenging situation. Salaries were not paid, gratuities were not paid, and pensions were not paid. That is now a thing of the past.
“The civil servants are happy with us. The people are happy with us. They can see measurable progress. Everyone is happy with us,” he said.
On the state’s political future, AbdulRazaq expressed optimism that the emergence of Danladi as the APC’s governorship candidate would sustain the administration’s policies and programmes.
He described the Speaker as a grassroots politician who understood the workings of government, having collaborated with the executive arm on budgetary and other governance matters.
“We are lucky to have the Speaker of the State Assembly emerge as our candidate. We have worked together in running the state in harmony and peace.
“We send the budgets to them, they approve them, so he knows what is in the budget and monitors what we do. He is conversant with our programmes and, constitutionally, also has an eye on the local governments. So, he is a grassroots politician,” the governor said.
He added that the APC’s deputy governorship candidate was also a member of the state legislature, saying both candidates were familiar with Kwara’s political landscape.
Earlier, Yari said the delegation visited the state to appreciate AbdulRazaq’s contributions to the party and seek his continued support for the APC’s success across the country.
He thanked the governor for the warm reception accorded the team from their arrival at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, describing it as an exceptional show of hospitality.
“Your Excellency, we are here to pay homage. I personally know what you are doing to ensure that the APC succeeds, not only in Kwara but also in Nigeria.
“We know the role you are playing in advising Mr President and the council. Your concern is how this journey will be successful. I really appreciate all this, and we are going to continue working together,” Yari said.
At the Emir’s Palace, the campaign council director-general said the delegation had come to seek the monarch’s prayers and blessings for the success of the APC and its candidates, particularly Tinubu, in the 2027 general elections.
“Your son, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has done a lot for this country, and your son, the Governor of Kwara State, has done a lot for this state, from when he took responsibility in 2019 to where we are today,” Yari told the Emir.
“Your Royal Highness, we have not only come to seek your support but also your prayers and blessings for Asiwaju’s re-election in 2027.”
Responding, Sulu-Gambari thanked the delegation for the visit and prayed for the victory of Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“The leader of the team, Senator Abdulazeez Yari, is a great man, and all of you are great men in Nigerian politics. You are all going to be victorious, and I wish you success in your future endeavours, In Sha Allah,” the Emir prayed.
