OPINION: KWARA NORTH AND THE DANGER OF SECTIONAL POLITICS AHEAD OF 2027 (A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT: WHY THE KWARA NORTH “STAKEHOLDERS” COMMUNIQUÉ MUST BE REJECTED)

OP-ED: KWARA NORTH AND THE DANGER OF SECTIONAL POLITICS AHEAD OF 2027 (A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT: WHY THE KWARA NORTH “STAKEHOLDERS” COMMUNIQUÉ MUST BE REJECTED)

The communiqué issued after the purported Kwara North Elders/Stakeholders meeting of April 11, 2026, in Ilorin has sparked serious concern across the state. While it purports to advance the collective interest of Kwara North, a closer reading reveals troubling undercurrents of exclusion, sectionalism, and potential disregard for electoral laws.

At a critical moment when unity and strategic cooperation are required, any initiative that claims to speak for Kwara North must, at the very least, reflect its diversity. Unfortunately, this communiqué falls short of that basic expectation.

Kwara North is not a monolith. It comprises multiple constituencies, including Edu, Moro, and Patigi, each with distinct political actors and stakeholders. Yet, the meeting failed to reflect this diversity.

Notably absent were key aspirants and leaders from these constituencies, including figures such as Hon. Hassan Mahmud Babako and Alhaji Tajudeen Audu, among others. Their exclusion raises legitimate concerns about whether the gathering was ever intended to be representative.

A meeting that sidelines critical segments of the region cannot credibly claim to speak for all. Rather, it suggests the advancement of a narrow agenda dominated by a specific axis within Kwara North.

Equally concerning is the selective identification of “stakeholders” in the communiqué. The prominent names cited are drawn largely from Kaiama and Baruteen, leaving out voices from Nupe from Edu and Pategi and the Yoruba from Moro.

This selective recognition undermines the very essence of stakeholder engagement. True leadership demands inclusiveness, not the elevation of a few voices at the expense of others.

If left unchecked, this approach risks entrenching division within Kwara North at a time when unity is indispensable.

Beyond the political implications, there are serious legal questions arising from the communiqué’s tone and direction.

Section 101 of the Electoral Act 2026 clearly prohibits political campaigning or mobilization based on tribal, sectional, or divisive considerations. Any strategy that promotes political alignment along such lines must be approached with caution.

Nigeria’s courts have consistently reinforced the importance of lawful and inclusive political processes. In A.G. Federation v. Abubakar, the Supreme Court underscored the centrality of constitutional order and national cohesion. Similarly, Amaechi v. INEC affirmed that political outcomes must derive from due process, not manipulation.

The implication is clear: political ambition must operate within the bounds of the law.

The communiqué’s attempt to draw traditional rulers into its programme is particularly worrisome. Traditional institutions occupy a unique position as custodians of unity and cultural heritage. Their neutrality must be preserved at all costs.

Kwara North is still recovering from the divisions of the 2023 elections. Injecting traditional rulers into partisan alignments risks reopening old wounds and deepening mistrust.

The call for a “consensus candidate” is not, in itself, objectionable. However, consensus must be built on broad consultation and mutual agreement not selective engagement.

Where consensus becomes a tool for exclusion, it ceases to be democratic.

If aspirants are confident in their popularity and track record, the appropriate path remains open and competitive primaries. This is the essence of internal party democracy.

Kwara State faces pressing challenges, particularly in the area of security. Communities in Patigi, Lafiagi, Gbugbu, Woro and Nuku have experienced tragic losses in recent times.

At such a moment, leadership must be defined not by political maneuvering but by competence, empathy, and capacity to act decisively.

The people deserve leaders who can restore peace, rebuild trust, and chart a clear path toward development not individuals preoccupied with securing power through backdoor arrangements.

Kwara North must resist the pull of sectional politics and embrace a broader vision anchored on unity and fairness. The path to the 2027 governorship election must be guided by:

Inclusiveness

Respect for democratic processes

Adherence to the rule of law

Anything less risks undermining not only the region’s aspiration but the stability of the state as a whole.

CONCLUSION

The April 11 communiqué, rather than uniting Kwara North, exposes underlying fractures that must be urgently addressed. It does not reflect the collective will of the region but rather a limited perspective that risks deepening division.

As the political season gathers momentum, stakeholders must choose the path of unity over division, law over expediency, and genuine leadership over narrow ambition.

The future of Kwara State depends on it.