Kwara Holds the Highest Number of APC Gubernatorial Aspirants, Group Reports

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Before the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, 16 governorship aspirants from Kwara State have already purchased expressions of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 general elections.

A statement released in Ilorin by the sociopolitical organisation Democratic Network International (DNI), signed by its coordinator Israel Babatunde, said that this number is the highest among the governorship aspirants in the 28 states participating in the upcoming poll.

The statement added, “While Abia has five governorship aspirants, Adamawa has 10, Bauchi 8, Oyo 11 and Rivers 4.”

Babatunde described the development as a reflection of the beauty of democracy, but also said it signals a leadership crisis in the state.

He said the party leadership in the state should have provided guidance in a civil atmosphere to ensure a strong showing in the 2027 elections.

“In a situation where an unpopular aspirant is preferred over a popular one because of self‑centred interest or ethnic sentiments, the party may be to blame if such a plan is allowed to take hold,” the group noted.

The statement further said that party leadership should have established a process to ensure a popular aspirant emerges as the consensus candidate and receives support.

“We learned that more than 40 people bought the nomination for the House of Representatives.”

“If we total the amount of money APC candidates used to buy forms from Kwara State alone, it would be over N3 billion for a state that is not that viable when compared to others in its category.”

“A proper leadership would have prevented such a scenario.”

“It would be better for the party to work for consensus candidates to be chosen, because, as it is, the primaries would factionalise the party.”

There are also 154 House of Assembly aspirants for a 24‑seat State Assembly.

“As democrats, it’s gratifying to see that many aspirants are showing interest to govern the state, but it is worrying that the process continues to look unwieldy with the highest number of aspirants for state and national elections in the whole country.”

“Going by the information at our disposal, the closest to Kwara is Oyo State with just a little above 10.”

“While Governor Abdulraham Abdulrazaq deserves applause for freeing up the political space, we are calling on him to emulate his brother‑governor in Borno, Babagana Zulum, who rallied stakeholders to present a consensus candidate for the party in line with President Bola Tinubu’s desire to forestall the usual crisis that follows primary elections.”

The governor, as the state party leader, will have to work with the national leadership to maintain peace after the nomination.

“President Tinubu is also urged to step into the Kwara crisis to preserve the fragile peace in the state. The President has done so successfully in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos, even in Osun and Ekiti with off‑circle elections. The time to act is now, for the peace of Kwara.”