By Omowumi Omotosho
An authoritative source within the Kwara state government circle has revealed to National pilot that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is set to reshuffle his cabinet and unlike what obtained before now, he may shift away from his longstanding reliance on technocrats and women, opting instead to bring in more politicians into key roles.
“There is an imminent cabinet reshuffling. The governor will be using more of the political class than the technocrats. It seems he is planning ahead of 2027,” the source who spoke under anonymity disclosed.
Governor Abdulrazaq, who has led the state since 2019, built his administration on the inclusion of professionals and a notable number of women in leadership positions. His commitment to gender inclusion even earned him the United Nations’ prestigious ‘He-for-She’ award in 2020. In the past six years, the governor has been known for appointing technocrats and women into his cabinet.
However, recent developments suggest a pivot in strategy. Insiders within Kwara’s political circles hint that the reshuffle is to satisfy the political class who have long felt sidelined by the governor’s preference for technocrats.
The timing of this reshuffle has fueled speculation that it may be part of a broader strategy ahead of the 2027 elections. There are speculations that the governor could be seeking to consolidate political support by appeasing influential politicians who could be critical to his electoral ambitions in the coming years.
While no official statement yet has been made by the governor’s office, the reshuffling is widely expected to be announced soon.
