2027: Opinion Poll Favours Gov AbdulRazaq, Danladi- Salihu, APC Senatorial Candidates

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a new opinion poll by NU Northstar Research, has indicated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship and senatorial candidates in Kwara State are clearly ahead of their opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The poll, which covered 30,000 registered voters across the 16 local government areas and 193 wards in the state, placed the APC governorship candidate, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, ahead of his PDP counterpart,Engr.  Kawu Sulaiman Bolakale, with 63 percent against 34 percent among voters who had indicated their preferred candidates.

The findings, signed by the research firm’s Head of Research, Ebuka Iloh, followed interviews conducted between September 2 and October 20, 2026.

According to the survey, Danladi-Salihu also led in all the three senatorial districts and the 16 local government areas. His strongest showing was recorded in Kwara North, where he secured 71 percent support against Bolakale’s 26 percent among decided voters.

In Kwara Central, the APC candidate polled 56 percent against 41 percent for the PDP candidate, while the contest was closer in Ilorin West, Bolakale’s home local government, where Danladi-Salihu led by 51 percent to 46 percent.

However, the poll showed that a significant number of voters were yet to decide their preferred candidates. Among the entire electorate surveyed, Danladi-Salihu secured 43 percent, Bolakale 24 per cent, while 31 per cent were undecided or declined to disclose their preference.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled one percent, while Ridwan Apaokagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) recorded less than one per cent.

The survey identified 135 wards where the APC candidate maintained clear leads, while 58 wards were considered too close to call. Kwara South had the highest proportion of undecided voters at 43 percent, compared with 28 percent in Kwara Central and 24 percent in Kwara North.

It further showed that all six local government areas where undecided voters exceeded 40 percent were in Kwara South. Among young voters aged between 18 and 29, 37 percent were yet to decide their preferred candidates.

The senatorial contests also favoured the APC candidates, according to the poll. In Kwara Central, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the APC candidate, led the PDP candidate and incumbent senator, Saliu Mustapha, by 62 percent to 33 percent among decided voters.

In Kwara South, the APC’s Olalekan Adewoye polled 60 percent against 36 percent for the PDP candidate, Saheed Popoola, while Mahmud Umar Muhammad of the APC led Kolo Baba Jiya of the PDP by 65 percent to 31 per cent in Kwara North.

On voting patterns, 64 percent of respondents said they intended to vote for candidates of the same political party in both the governorship and senatorial elections. Fifteen per cent indicated that they might split their votes, while 21 per cent remained uncertain.

The research team said it used telephone interviews, street-level interviews and online questionnaires to gather data on voting intentions, government performance and issues affecting communities.