2027: Kwara APC Stakeholders Back Consensus Option

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) drawn from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State have expressed their readiness to support and abide by any consensus arrangement adopted by the leadership of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The stakeholders made this known on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital.

At the media chat, top party chieftains reaffirmed their confidence in the leadership of the party at both the state and national levels.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the group, the Chairman and Secretary of the Amalgamated APC Elders and Stakeholders Forum, Prof. Khalid Dasuki and Amb. Julius Balogun, respectively, said the elders and stakeholders would respect the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

They noted that the party leadership has demonstrated commendable foresight in states such as Osun, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos through the promotion of consensus arrangements aimed at strengthening internal unity and cohesion.

“We are proud of the proactive leadership being demonstrated by the President and the party in neighbouring states like Osun, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos,” they said.

“We trust in the judgement and wisdom of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safely, seamlessly, and smartly navigate the affairs of our great party in Kwara State as well.”

The leaders of the group recalled that it was the intervention and leadership of President Tinubu that helped stabilise the APC in Kwara State ahead of the 2019 elections, leading to the emergence of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the eventual success of the ‘Otoge’ political movement.

“The President already has a positive precedent with us here in Kwara. It was through his fatherly wisdom and superior leadership that the party was successfully guided in 2019, producing our amiable Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” they stated.

“We are proud of the remarkable milestones achieved so far by the Governor, and we remain grateful for that historic and strategic decision taken in 2019.”

The stakeholders further urged the party leadership to settle for a candidate who is widely popular, broadly acceptable, credible, competent, and capable of confronting what they described as the growing threat posed by the opposition in the state.

“With the Otoge Revolution of 2019, Kwara State was liberated from the shackles of godfatherism, misgovernance, and underdevelopment. The state cannot afford to go back to Egypt.

“Therefore, we jointly and collectively express our willingness, readiness, and resolve to abide by the party’s consensus arrangement in Kwara State, just as has been done successfully in other states,” they added.

The leaders also stated that party stakeholders across the state were prepared to mobilise thousands of APC members in support of whatever decision is eventually taken by the leadership of the party.

“We are fully committed to rallying party faithful across Kwara State behind this decision in order to ensure that the APC continues to retain the levers of power in the state beyond 2027