Kwara APC Dep Gov slot: Abdulrazaq snubs former party chairmen, Oyedepo, Fagbemi, picks school proprietor, Kayode Alabi
By Kayode Adeoti
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdurazaq has finally settled for an Abuja-based school proprietor, Kayode Alabi as his running mate in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election.
The APC deputy governorship candidate is the Proprietor of Regent International School, Abuja and also manages the affairs of a fast-food chain known as Drumstick and reportedly owned by the Abdulrazaq’s.
Alabi, is also said to be the bosom friend of Isiaka Abdulrazaq, the younger brother of Abdulrahman.
It was learnt that Isiaka persuaded his brother to pick Alabi as his running mate with the promise that he would support his campaign with the sum of N5billion.
With such promise, the APC governorship candidate was said to have rejected all other names suggested to him by party elders.
In arriving at the decision, Abdulrazaq, an oil magnate was said to have put an end to the ambition of two factional chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state; Iyiola Oyedepo and Prince Sunday Fagbemi’s who reportedly showed interest in the seat.
The APC gubernatorial candidate’s choice of Alabi also nullified the reported preferred candidates of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alahaji Lai Mohammed, for the deputy governorship seat.
The Minister was said to be at loggerheads with Abdulrazaq’s family following his insistence on Oyedepo, Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi and former governorship candidate, Sen Simeon Ajibola as Deputy Governorship candidate.
It was gathered that before the emergence of Alabi, the former factional chairmen of the PDP, Fagbemi and Oyedepo made wide consultations with the APC leaders in their attempt to be named Abdulrazaq’s running mate.
The duo reportedly held meetings with party elders, and chairmen at wards and local governments level to achieve their aspiration.
In separate interviews with the duo on the issue recently, Oyedepo said it is the party’s decision that will prevail and not that of an individual.
Fagbemi in his words said, “when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. The party will look at what is best…”.
