From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, has settled on former Kwara State House of Assembly member, Prince Saheed Popoola, Chief Joseph Gbenga Obanla and Prince Moshood Bakare as its consensus candidates for three National Assembly seats in Kwara South ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting involving party leaders and grassroots politicians from the 83 wards across Kwara South, held at the PDP State Secretariat in Ilorin.
The stakeholders deliberated extensively on zoning and the choice of candidates for the Kwara South Senatorial District, Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency and Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency, before arriving at a consensus arrangement.
Under the zoning formula agreed at the meeting, the Kwara South Senatorial ticket, was allocated to the Ibolo axis, while the Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency was zoned to the Omu-Aran axis. The Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency ticket was allocated to the Ifelodun axis.
Following the consultations, the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Isa Adamu, announced Popoola as the consensus candidate for the Kwara South Senatorial District.
Chief Joseph Gbenga Obanla was endorsed for the Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, while Prince Moshood Bakare, a two-term former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly and indigene of Igbaja, emerged as the consensus candidate for the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency.
Bawa said the decisions were reached after consultations and contributions from party stakeholders across the senatorial district, stressing that unity would be critical to the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
He said the consensus arrangement reflected the collective position of the party leadership and stakeholders after considering the political realities and the need to field candidates capable of securing victory for the PDP.
The party chairman also disclosed that the PDP would proceed with arrangements for rerun primary elections for the three positions, adding that the dates, venues and other details would be announced in due course.
The Chairman of the PDP Elders Council, Alhaji Ishola Fulani, appealed to other aspirants and party members to accept the outcome of the consultations and work together for the success of the party.
Balogun urged members to put the party’s interest above individual ambitions, saying the ultimate objective of the zoning and consensus arrangement was to produce candidates with the capacity to win the 2027 elections.
He said, “The spirit of winning should guide our actions and decisions as we move towards the 2027 elections.”
The elder statesman further appealed to all aspirants who participated in the process to demonstrate party loyalty by supporting the agreed candidates and working with the leadership to deliver victory for all PDP candidates in Kwara State.
The party said further information on the rerun primaries would be communicated to members at the appropriate time.
