2027: Afenifere Seeks Inclusiveness In Kwara’s Political Leadership

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Kwara State chapter of Afenifere has cautioned political actors against what it described as the growing risk of faith-based exclusion in the state’s political space.

The group said it would support the emergence of the most capable and broadly acceptable candidate to govern the state, but warned that attempts to frame leadership around narrow religious considerations could undermine Kwara’s long standing tradition of inclusivity.

The group  expressed concern over what it called a “creeping perception” that political leadership in the state is increasingly being viewed through sectarian lenses, noting that such a trend runs contrary to Kwara’s plural identity and historical role as a bridge between Nigeria’s diverse cultures and faiths.

The state’s chairman of Afenifere, Chief Lekan Alabi, said the intervention was not an endorsement of sectarian politics nor an attempt to inflame religious sentiments, but a principled call for restraint and fairness.

“Kwara has long been a melting point of cultures, faiths and traditions. Any political arrangement, overt or covert, that suggests leadership is the preserve of a particular religious bloc is not only regressive but potentially destabilising,” Alabi said.

Afenifere noted that while zoning and power sharing arrangements are often justified as tools for equity, they should not be manipulated in ways that exclude sections of the population.

The group stressed that leadership should be determined by competence, character, capacity and popular acceptance rather than religious or sectarian calculations.

The statement recalled that Kwara’s political development has historically been shaped by leaders who transcended identity boundaries, adding that the state’s stability and progress have depended largely on its ability to rise above parochial interests.

Placing the issue within the broader national context, Afenifere warned that perceptions of religious marginalisation could prove particularly damaging ahead of the 2027 elections, especially at a time when the Middle Belt and adjoining regions face heightened scrutiny over insecurity, extremism, and social cohesion.