Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, under the auspices of the Kwara Political Thought Leaders (KPLOT), have said that the ideal candidate for Kwara State governorship in 2027 can come from any district in the state, stressing that the 2027 governorship race should not be based on zoning.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin, the Mohammed Mariam Alhassan-led group also advised the national leadership of the party and the Presidency to be cautious on the issue of who will become the gubernatorial candidate of Kwara State in the 2027 general elections, adding that stakeholders must be guided.
Alhassan said Kwara State is practically at war, especially due to insecurity challenges in some parts of the state, adding that “wars are not won by convenience or sentiment, but by deliberate and competent strategic leadership.
“Kwara today faces realities that leave us no room for emotional politics, convenient assumptions or premature conclusions. Today’s reality demands sobriety, honesty and courage. It requires that our political decisions be driven by ability, competence and character, not sentiment or step-by-step calculations.
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“From Edu to Patigi, Ifelodun to Isin and Ekiti to Kaiama, Kwara State has unfortunately become an epicenter of banditry and terrorism, an unprecedented situation in the history of our state. While we acknowledge and commend both the Kwara State Government led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their sustained efforts to stem the tide, we hear that communities are still are under siege, livelihoods remain threatened and the sense of security that once defined Kwara has been severely eroded.
“In the face of this crisis, it is no longer acceptable to approach leadership selection as we might have done in more stable times. If Kwara once had the luxury of making sentimental political decisions, that luxury no longer exists.
“The leadership question before us is no longer where a candidate comes from, but who that candidate is. Who has the competence to confront insecurity? Who has the capacity to rebuild trust in governance? Who has the courage, experience and vision to lead Kwara out of its current challenges and secure its future? These are the questions occupying the minds of ordinary Kwarans across the state, not the narrow and primordial sentiments promoted by a section of the political class,” he said.
The group also said the ideal leader for Kwara in 2027 can come from anywhere; North, South or Centre, adding that “if the best and most capable candidate emerges from the North, we should not hesitate to support that person. If that candidate comes from the South, the same principle should apply. If competence and capability reside in the Centre, we should embrace it equally.”
“At this critical time, limiting our options based on zoning or overriding sentiment is dangerous, and the consequences will fall on all Kwarans,” he said.
The people also asked the traditional rulers of the state to stay away from partisan politics and political agitations and permutations, saying that “the throne derives its strength from the neutrality, moral authority and trust of all subjects, irrespective of their political inclinations.
“Once a royal institution is drawn into partisan battles, it risks losing its unifying essence and the sacred distance that inspires reverence. Monarchs must remember that their domains are home to people of diverse and often contradictory political interests; aligning yourself with one trend, no matter the temptation or promised reward, inevitably alienates others and erodes the sanctity of power.”