Kwara 2027: Five Governorship Hopefuls Unveil Plans, Challenge APC, PDP Candidates Over Absence
Five governorship candidates in Kwara State have outlined their development priorities ahead of the 2027 election, with security, education, economic growth, healthcare and grassroots development dominating their proposals at a political discourse organised by the Association of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP).
The candidates, who included Hon. Zakari Mohammed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prof. Abdulmumeen Yinka Ajia of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Omotosho Bamidele Olaitan of the Allied Peoples Movement (APP), Dr Ridwanullahi Apaokagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Deacon Shola Victor Abioye of the National Democratic Party (NDP), presented their positions at the event held on Friday at Rotana Hotel, Ilorin.
The discourse provided an opportunity for the candidates to engage stakeholders from organised labour, the education sector, civil society organisations, religious groups and community-based organisations across the three senatorial districts of the state.
However, the absence of the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu, featured prominently in the discussions, with some of the participating candidates using the occasion to question their readiness to engage voters on their policy proposals.
Zakari, a former member of the House of Representatives, criticised the absence of the two major party candidates, describing them as lacking the independence required to govern the state.
He argued that his experience in public service, including his tenure as a commissioner and federal lawmaker, alongside his academic qualifications, had prepared him for the governorship.
The ADC candidate said his administration would prioritise security through the deployment of advanced technology to combat kidnapping, banditry and other security threats confronting the state.
He also promised equitable distribution of development projects across the three senatorial districts, improved rural infrastructure and economic revitalisation.
Zakari warned voters against what he described as an attempt to extend the tenure of the outgoing administration through a proxy arrangement.
“Supporting the APC candidate means a third term by proxy, while Kawu will be serving a fifth term. I will be a governor and govern when elected. I would take decisions without rushing to a godfather for clearance,” he said.
He urged the electorate to support the ADC, promising to provide independent leadership and take Kwara to greater heights.
Similarly, the NDC candidate, Prof. Ajia, unveiled his development blueprint tagged ‘Kwara Forward’, which he said was built around six pillars, with security, education and economic development identified as major priorities.
Ajia, who said he returned to Nigeria from the United States specifically to participate in the discourse, commended ASKOMP for providing a platform for candidates to engage directly with the people.
“We respect our people and ASKOMP. I returned to Nigeria from the United States to attend this manifesto discourse. The Kwara Forward manifesto has six pillars, with security, education and the economy as the areas of priority,” he said.
He also questioned the capacity of the APC candidate to govern the state, insisting that Kwara should not experience what he described as a third-term arrangement under the outgoing governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
On his part, the APP candidate, Olaitan, promised to increase the bursary for students in tertiary institutions from the proposed N100,000 level and introduce free healthcare services for vulnerable residents.
He also identified the state’s mineral resources as an untapped source of revenue, promising to explore abandoned mineral deposits to boost internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
According to him, sustainable development requires states to identify and harness their economic potentials rather than rely solely on monthly revenue from the Federation Account.
The SDP candidate, Dr Apaokagi, made local government autonomy a central part of his campaign promises, pledging to ensure that councils enjoy genuine administrative and financial independence in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
The medical doctor also promised strategic investments in healthcare and education, arguing that strengthening the two sectors would improve the living conditions of residents and accelerate development at the grassroots.
Abioye of the NDP also presented his vision for the state, outlining his commitment to accelerating development and improving the welfare of the people.
Earlier, ASKOMP Chairman, Salihu Shola Taofeek, said the manifesto discourse was designed to provide candidates with an opportunity to explain their policy directions and development priorities to the electorate.
He said the initiative was aimed at promoting issue-based campaigns and enabling voters to make informed decisions during the 2027 governorship election.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the ASKOMP Manifesto Discourse Planning Committee and Publisher of 9japarrot, Saeed Tijjani, disclosed that the association had invited all 12 governorship candidates on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He appreciated the five candidates who honoured the invitation, saying their participation had provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess their programmes and leadership visions.
The discourse was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara Must Change, Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD) and community-based organisations.
The engagement forms part of efforts to promote accountability and encourage candidates to place policy issues at the centre of political campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State.
