Has Abdulrazaq Reneged on Promise of Governorship Ticket to Kwara North?  Plus Why He Asked Yahaya Seriki to Contest After a Meeting in South Africa

By Omowumi Omotosho

The political landscape in Kwara State is heating up, and at the center of it is Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s shifting stance on who will succeed him in 2027. For years, the governor led Kwara North to believe that they would get the next APC governorship ticket, a promise that helped secure their support for his 2023 re-election after the PDP zoned its governorship ticket to the region with Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi a Nupe native from Ankurifun, Shonga Emirate of Edu Local Government Area of the Kwara North as its candidate.

It is an open-secret that the governor’s preferred candidate in the Kwara North is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi, who is representing the Ilesha-Gwanara constituency.

However, recent political developments suggest that the governor may be reconsidering his commitment to Kwara North. While his faction of the APC still leans towards zoning the 2027 ticket to the region, a new twist has emerged with the entry of Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, an influential businessman and an APC chieftain from Kwara Central, into the race. The governor is believed to have encouraged Seriki’s ambition after a meeting in South Africa, raising questions about whether his earlier promise to Kwara North remains intact.

Insiders close to the governor say that multiple factors influenced his decision to invite Seriki into the race. There are concerns that Kwara North may not present a strong enough candidate to win the 2027 election, following security and youth assessments that cast doubt on the region’s electoral viability. In addition, influential elders from the Ilorin Emirate have reportedly signaled their unwillingness to support the governor if the PDP fields a Kwara Central candidate, forcing him to reconsider his earlier stance. The lack of unity among political stakeholders in Kwara North has also been cited as a major factor, with fears that internal divisions could weaken their chances in a tightly contested election.

Although Abdulrazaq is said to be not fully committed to Yahaya Seriki’s candidacy, sources within the APC suggest that he wants Seriki to continue spending resources and strengthening the party’s presence across the state before any final decision is made. The governor is also said to be weighing Seriki’s financial muscle, believing that his wealth could help counter the spending power of Senator Saliu Mustapha representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.

Saliu Mustapha is a frontrunner in the race towards 2027 gubernatorial election in Kwara State. He commands huge financial resources which he has generously spread all across the nooks and crannies of the state’s political, economic,social ,traditional and religious landscape in pursuit of his 2027 gubernatorial agenda.

It is widely believed that Gov Abdulrasaq owed his reelection in 2023 partly to Mustapha’s political clout.

Beyond financial considerations, Seriki’s close ties to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, have been identified as a key reason behind the governor’s move to draft him into the race. The relationship is seen as a strategic advantage, potentially offering stronger federal backing for APC’s governorship bid in Kwara State.

Another source within the governor’s camp disclosed that Abdulrazaq’s encouragement of Seriki is also aimed at weakening the influence of Senator Saliu Mustapha over Kwara Central delegates ahead of the APC primaries. By drawing multiple aspirants from Kwara Central into the race, the governor’s strategy appears to be focused on preventing Mustapha from emerging as the sole beneficiary of Kwara Central delegates’ votes. The calculation is that a crowded field of aspirants will divide support within the zone, reducing Mustapha’s influence and reshaping the dynamics of the primary election.

Meanwhile, the political landscape in Kwara is becoming increasingly complex, with other notable figures, including Dele Belgore, the Action Congress of Nigeria’s governorship candidate in the 2011 Kwara State gubernatorial election who lost to the PDP’s Governorship candidate, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and several Ilorin indigenes, now showing interest in the governorship contest. Their emergence signals a growing battle for dominance within the ruling APC, further complicating Abdulrazaq’s calculations as he navigates his succession plan.

While the PDP has opted to leave its governorship ticket open to all regions, the internal struggles within the APC suggest that the 2027 race is far from settled. The lingering question remains whether Governor Abdulrazaq will stay true to his promise of handing over to Kwara North or if political realities will force him to shift his allegiance. With various interest groups positioning themselves for power, the coming months will determine whether his administration maintains its commitment or if the unfolding political drama signals a new direction for Kwara’s future leadership.