Kwara 2027: Saddiq Umar Stakeholders urge Gov. AbdulRazaq to Honour pact with Kwara North

Kwara 2027: Saddiq Umar Stakeholders urge Gov. AbdulRazaq to Honour pact with Kwara North

A bloc of All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders aligned with Senator Saddiq Umar has written an open letter to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, demanding that the party’s 2027 governorship ticket be zoned to Kwara North in line with what they described as the governor’s 2023 pledge.

The letter, issued under the Kwara State APC Elders Caucus, was signed by four key figures: Sir Chief Dr James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, Chairman, Kwara South; Sen. Mohammed Inuwa Ahmed, Wazirin Yashikira and Deputy Chairman, Kwara North; Ayinla Salman Jawondo SAN, Deputy Chairman, Kwara Central; and Hon. Abdulmumin Sidiq Katibi, Secretary. The signatories are identified within party circles as allies of Senator Saddiq Umar, who currently represents Kwara North in the National Assembly.

The Saddiq Umar stakeholders said they were “compelled” to write due to “worrisome speculations” that “unscrupulous persons or groups” were lobbying the governor to drop the Kwara North arrangement. The alleged alternative, according to the letter, is to back a Kwara Central aspirant for governor.

The group claimed the proposal is tied to facilitating Governor AbdulRazaq’s own run for the Kwara Central Senatorial seat in 2027. They outlined two versions of the rumoured deal:  

A “trade by barter” where the incumbent Kwara Central Senator would get the governorship slot, clearing the Senate seat for AbdulRazaq.  

Backing another Kwara Central aspirant for governor who would then succeed AbdulRazaq in 2027.

The bloc called such a move “unjustifiable and unacceptable” to both Kwara North and Kwara South, arguing it would make the governorship “perpetually and exclusively the right and preserve of Kwara Central Senatorial District.”

The stakeholders said Kwara North elders visited the governor’s office after his second-term victory in 2023. At that meeting, AbdulRazaq “made a firm promise to support a Kwara North Candidate for the subsequent Gubernatorial Election in 2027.” They described the pledge as a “noble act” to reciprocate Kwara North’s “overwhelming support” despite a son of the district also being on the ballot.

The group stated that “not too long ago,” the governor directed the Kwara APC State Executive to invite only aspirants from Kwara North. The purpose was to counsel them “to unite and work together harmoniously” with the understanding that a consensus candidate would emerge from the zone.

The group also said that in April 14, 2026 a mega rally at Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, drew APC members from all 16 LGAs. The stakeholders said the rally was held “at the instance of Your Excellency” and had the governor’s “full input and support.” Its stated aim: “galvanize support for the emergence of a unified Kwara North Senatorial District APC Candidate” for 2027.

The Saddiq Umar bloc argued that Kwara North “has always delivered solid votes” for candidates from the other two districts for “the past twenty-seven years.” Abandoning the zone now, they said, would “take the people for granted” and “definitely jeopardize the victory of the APC” in 2027.

They warned of “repercussions, negative and adverse effects” on both the party’s electoral fortunes and “long term desired unity and harmony” among Kwarans if the alleged Kwara Central plan materializes.

To resolve the brewing tension, the group urged AbdulRazaq to “immediately set in motion a Consultative Assembly” of critical APC stakeholders. The proposed body would consult widely and produce a Consensus Candidate from Kwara North to be presented to INEC as the APC flagbearer.

The letter explained that the open-letter format was chosen due to “urgency” and because “the previous veritable channel” for communication with the governor had been “sealed for quite some time.”

Copies of the letter were sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman, and the Kwara APC State Chairman.