Ilorin Elders Reject Alleged Imposition of AbdulRazaq’s Preferred Successor

Jonathan Eze

The Ilorin Emirate Political Advisory Council has publicly rejected claims that Ambassador Abdulfatah Yahaya Seriki‑Gambari is Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq’s chosen candidate for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election. The council warned that such a move would amount to imposing a successor on the people of Kwara State.

After extensive consultations with political leaders, elders, technocrats, professionals and other stakeholders across the Ilorin Emirate, the council released a forceful statement on Tuesday. It declared that the governor’s alleged decision is a personal matter and does not represent the collective stance or aspirations of the Emirate.

Signed by the council’s National Coordinator, Dr. Yakub Yahaya Oloriegbe, and Secretary, Lt. Col. Abubakar Edun, the statement emphasized that the purported endorsement lacked wide consultation and overlooked the delicate political, social and cultural realities of Kwara State.

The council noted that the process behind the alleged endorsement excluded key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, political actors, community elders and opinion leaders, from meaningful participation.

“The Ilorin Emirate is built on consultation, mutual respect, inclusion and collective responsibility,” the statement added, warning that no individual should undermine these long‑standing values through unilateral political decisions or attempts to force outcomes on the populace.

While making it clear that the council is not personally attacking Ambassador Seriki‑Gambari—who it calls a respected son of the Emirate with every constitutional right to run—it strongly opposed the manner in which his candidacy is allegedly being promoted.

The group urged traditional institutions, youth groups, women’s organisations, civil society actors and political stakeholders to resist all forms of political imposition, coercion and manipulation in the run‑up to the 2027 elections.

It maintained that only a transparent, inclusive and democratic process grounded in fairness, equity and openness can ensure peace, unity and political stability in Kwara State.