2027: Kwara North APC Elders Urge Traditional Rulers to Avoid Being Drawn into Partisan Politics

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Ilorin — Elders and members of the Otoge Progressives (TOP) from Kwara North Senatorial District have urged traditional rulers in Kwara to steer clear of partisan politics to sustain peace, unity and development across the state.

They made the call in a statement jointly signed by five TOP members representing the five local government areas in the senatorial district and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Thursday.

NAN reports that the signatories were Sen. Mohammed Ahmed (Baruten), Alhaji Zakariyau Saba (Patigi), Ahmed Kpatako (Edu), Abdulmumin Katibi (Moro) and Alhassan Bagudu (Kaiama).

The stakeholders also dissociated themselves from a proposed gathering of Kwara North stakeholders scheduled to hold in Bode Saadu, headquarters of Moro Local Government Area.

According to the statement, the gathering was convened by traditional rulers from the senatorial district to deliberate on the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group emphasised that traditional rulers should not be drawn into partisan political activities, warning that such involvement could undermine the dignity and credibility of the revered institution.

It described traditional rulers as occupying a unique and sacred position in society, adding that they should remain fathers to all their subjects, irrespective of political affiliations or ideological differences.

“We believe that our traditional rulers occupy a unique and sacred position in our society.

“They should be royal fathers to all their subjects, irrespective of political party leaning, ideological persuasion or personal political affiliation,” the statement said.

The stakeholders urged the traditional institution to remain above partisan considerations and resist attempts to place it in situations where its neutrality, impartiality and moral authority could be questioned or compromised.

They expressed concern over what they described as the increasing politicisation of the traditional institution in Kwara in recent times.

The group also criticised what it called the growing tendency of the state government to involve traditional rulers in the internal affairs of the ruling APC.

According to the statement, no administration since the creation of Kwara in 1967 had involved traditional rulers in the internal affairs of a political party to the extent they alleged was happening under the present administration.

“The traditional institution belongs to the entire people and not to any political party or administration.

“Traditional rulers should therefore be allowed to discharge their constitutional, cultural and traditional responsibilities without being burdened with intra-party disputes, candidature issues or other matters that properly belong to political parties and their organs,” the statement said.

The stakeholders alleged that Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had mishandled the affairs of the APC in the state, urging him to address the party’s internal challenges without involving the traditional institution.

They appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the governor to respect the sanctity of the traditional institution by keeping traditional rulers away from partisan political activities.

The group, however, clarified that its position was not intended to disrespect traditional rulers but to protect the dignity and integrity of the institution.

“Rather, it is an expression of profound respect for the institution and conviction that its dignity, neutrality and non-partisan character must be protected,” the statement said.

Reaffirming their commitment to the unity and electoral success of the APC in the 2027 general elections, the stakeholders maintained that the selection of candidates and resolution of internal party disputes should be handled through the appropriate party organs and structures.

They said such matters should be addressed in line with the APC constitution and the principles of internal democracy.
(NAN)