Kwara APC Stronger, Poised For 2027 Victory – Governor AbdulRazaq

Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is stronger than ever and well-positioned to record a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections, citing the administration’s performance and what he described as the party’s growing grassroots support.

The governor made the declaration on Monday at the APC Youth Engagement 2026 in Ilorin, where he presented the party’s candidates for various elective offices before party leaders and supporters.

Addressing the gathering, AbdulRazaq urged party faithful to return to their wards, polling units and local government areas to begin mobilisation ahead of the elections, stressing that the party could not afford to be complacent despite its growing popularity.

“Our job has just begun for the next phase. You are to go home, go to your various wards, zones and polling booths to start organising yourselves. We are not complacent, but at the same time, our party has now become stronger than ever, while the opposition is much weaker than how they were in the previous elections. We should, however, do more hard work in order to attain victory. Insha Allah, 2027 shall be the year of victory,” he said.

The governor described the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and the APC governorship candidate, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as a competent and experienced politician who possesses the capacity to sustain the developmental strides recorded by his administration.

Defending the choice of Danladi-Salihu as the party’s governorship flagbearer, AbdulRazaq said critics who questioned the Speaker’s competence ignored the pivotal role he had played in supporting the government’s programmes through legislative appropriations.

“SYD is part and parcel of this administration. All the projects that you see us doing today were appropriated under his leadership at the State House of Assembly. How can anyone say that a Speaker of almost eight years does not have experience? How can anyone say Kwara has developed but the person who appropriated funds for that development lacks experience?” he asked.

AbdulRazaq said his administration inherited a state with failing public institutions in 2019, recalling that education, healthcare and infrastructure had deteriorated while civil servants were owed salaries or paid in percentages.

He also accused the previous administration of diverting Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, saying the action contributed to the collapse of the education sector, low school enrolment and poor learning outcomes.

According to him, the APC administration has since reversed the trend through sustained investments and reforms, transforming the state’s education system, healthcare facilities and infrastructure.

The governor commended the large turnout of young party members at the engagement, describing it as a demonstration of confidence in his administration and the APC’s candidates.

Responding, Danladi-Salihu thanked AbdulRazaq and the APC leadership for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to sustain and improve on the administration’s transformation agenda if elected governor.

He said his legislative experience had prepared him for the responsibilities of leading the state, adding that he had been directly involved in the appropriation and oversight of projects executed across the 193 wards of Kwara.

Danladi-Salihu said the governor’s performance had strengthened the APC’s popularity across the state and dismissed suggestions that the party was divided following its primary elections.

“There is no division in Kwara APC. What happened was a contest of interests, which is normal in a democracy. Our brothers will come back because we are one family. We have continued to reach out to everyone, and together we will work for the victory of our party,” he said.

State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi said the achievements of the AbdulRazaq administration had positioned the party to retain power beyond 2027.

He, however, expressed concern over the conduct of some aggrieved members, saying while they had the right to express dissatisfaction, they must do so in line with the party’s constitution and established grievance procedures.

APC chieftain Alhaji Femi Agbaje also appealed to aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to remain loyal to the party, reminding them that every political contest produces winners and losers and that future opportunities would emerge.

In his keynote address titled: “One Party, One Mission: Building Unity for Electoral Success,” the APC’s Kwara North senatorial candidate, Dr. Mahmud Umar Muhammed, urged members to place the party’s collective interest above personal ambition.

He said reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation were essential to maintaining party unity, stressing that electoral success could only be achieved when members worked together toward a common goal.

Muhammed called on party members to replace grievances with reconciliation, disagreements with dialogue and competition with cooperation, saying a united APC would be better positioned to secure victory in the 2027 general elections.