PDP/APC State Congress: Winners and Losers in Kwara State Political Parties Congress

By Ahmed Ajikobi, Mike Adeyemi and Gafar Iyanda

The State Congress of the two major parties in Kwara State have come and gone, creating ripples across the parties including the state. These are in line with both parties agenda to put their house in order, place those that the parties believe would have a coherent stewardship of the party affairs and maximize their political advantages, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Evidently, while the congress added to the political fortune of some politicians within the parties, it has relegated some of them. The just concluded state congresses have produced some winners and losers. The National Pilot, highlighted some of these individuals.

…Winners in PDP

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

The former President of the Nigerian Senate and National Leader of PDP is undisputably, a winner in the just concluded PDP congress in Kwara State. It is no mean feat to organize an orderly and a rancour free Congress going by what is obtainable across Nigeria party’s internal democracy today, all over the federation.

The venue of the PDP Congress was filled by party faithfuls and loyalists, with all the programs conducted consensually. This is a further demonstration of the political sagacity and leadership qualities of ABS, as he is popularly referred to by his followers. It is also a reflection of a party which has her house in order and really means business in 2023 general elections in all tiers of government in the state. With this, Bukola Saraki has shown that leadership is the pivot of success in human affairs.

Babatunde Mohammed – Chairman

Another obvious winner from the PDP Congress, is the new Chairman of the party in the state. One time Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Muhammed Babatunde who has demonstrated what it means to be a loyal and unswerving politician who has remained under the umbrella of Saraki political family. His emergence through consensus is a reflection of his popularity and acceptance among the party faithfuls in Kwara State.

With his wealth of experience in politics, no doubt, he is a good choice to lead the executive of the PDP in the state towards success in the 2023 general elections.

Risikat Abdullahi – Woman Leader

A woman of indefatigable political prowess, Risikat emerged as the consensus women leader of PDP in the state. She is a strong grassroots politician, who has continued to demonstrate unalloyed commitment to the Saraki political Camp. She was politically underrated for a long time, but remains tenacious in her political conviction and over time her contributions have been recognized, leading to her present position.

Razaq Lawal- Secretary

Alhaji Razaq Lawal is definitely among the winners of the PDP State Congress. He was a former Commissioner for Special Duties under the late Governor Muhammed Lawal. He later pitched his tent with the Saraki dynasty where he has remained since. He contested for Federal House of Assembly in the last general elections in 2019 under PDP and lost.

With many speculations that his political fortune has dwindled, he rises again like a phoenix with his emergence as the consensual state Secretary of the PDP in Kwara State.

Bisi Fakayode – Zonal Chairman, Kwara South

Comrade Bisi Fakayode, emerged as the Zonal Chairman of PDP in Kwara South. He was one time SA Labour, under the administration of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, he has been a grassroots politician.

His emergence is no doubt a recognition of his contributions and loyalty to the party in his senatorial constituency.

…Winner in APC

Sunday Fagbemi – Chairman

The right hand man of the Governor of Kwara State emerged the State Chairman of APC. His emergence has been credited to his loyalty to the governor as people have described his election as a pay back time for his loyalty to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He is definitely AA’s man who would no doubt do the governor’s biddings as the executive head of the party in Kwara State.

…Losers in APC

The Kwara chapter of All Progressive Congress, APC Congress was also conducted on the same day as the PDP, but the process has left behind many losers whose permutations were dashed having succumbed to faith sequel to the emergence of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s loyalist, Sunday Fagbemi as the state APC Chairman.

Our findings reveal some of the APC gladiators whose hope and permutations hit the rock having lost out completely in the contest. The loser includes;

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq remains a big loser having spearheaded a divided party in the state which led the Kwara APC to having a parallel Congress amidst two factions of the party in the state.

Though, Governor AbdulRazaq was able to midwived the emergence of his avowed loyalist, Prince Sunday Fagbemi as Kwara State APC Chairman. Yet findings by the National Pilot revealed that even with his loyalists in place, the process was not hitch- free and bitter grumbling continued to be heard even from within the so called AA Camp. The AA faction from Kwara South Senatorial Constituency was splited among Femi White and Senator Lola Ashiru, who, it was gathered had a candidate of his own contrary to that of the governor.

The Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa camp also reelected the embattled former chairman of the party through an affirmation arrangement which further depended the crisis in the party as party stalwarts debunked the likelihood of reconciliation in the party.

Abdullahi Samari- Deputy Chairman

The erstwhile Kwara APC Caretaker Chairman also lost out from the Congress, as insiders within the party had assured him that he would be confirmed as the substantive party chairman. This was not to be as the governor eventually backed Fagbemi while Samari was relegated to the post of deputy chairman. It was being alledged by some politicians within the AA camp, that Governor AbdulRazaq betrayed Samari having used and dumped him in his tussle with the BOB faction.

Senator Lola Ashiru

The senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, Arch. Lola Ashiru was also another loser in the APC Congress. He was reported to have fielded Femi Agbaje, for the position of the chairman in an attempt to strategically placed the man at the head of the party in order to hold the control of party at Kwara South Senatorial Constituency, but put paid to this through his backing of Fagbemi who emerged as the chairman of the AA faction of the party in Kwara State.

Political analysts have opined that, the effects of these Congress would continue to be felt, both positive and negative, and will no doubt play a decisive role come 2023 general elections as winners and losers will continue to jostle to return back to the mainstream of their party or realign with other party.