Traditional rulers and community leaders from Kwara North Senatorial District have publicly praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, President Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress leadership following a landmark political development — the zoning of the party’s 2027 governorship ticket to their region.
The Kwara North Traditional Rulers Council thanked President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, and the APC leadership at both national and state levels for selecting their zone to produce the next governor of the state. Community leaders and elders in the district also expressed appreciation following the nomination of Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the ruling party’s governorship candidate at a primary election held on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional council, the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, described the development as a milestone and a clear demonstration of fairness, inclusiveness, equity, and political balance in the state. He said the gesture “has rekindled hope, strengthened political harmony, and further deepened the confidence of the people of Kwara North in the leadership of the APC.”
The monarch praised Governor AbdulRazaq for his statesmanship and commitment to fairness, saying his administration had consistently promoted unity, peace, and development across the state. He noted that finally addressing the long-standing call for power to shift to the district “will go down as a major milestone in the state’s political history.”
“In Kwara State, we have been fatherless but now you are our father. Kwara North will reciprocate this magnanimity by voting massively for APC in 2027,” the Etsu Patigi declared.
Kwara North is the only senatorial district yet to produce a civilian governor since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, making the zoning decision a particularly significant moment for the region.
The APC Elders Caucus, which had earlier backed the zoning decision, noted that Kwara Central has produced governors for a combined 20 years, while Kwara South held the office for eight years — lending weight to the argument that Kwara North’s turn was long overdue.
The celebrations have not been without controversy. Critics, including the Kwara State Youth Council, have warned that the traditional rulers have publicly aligned themselves in ways that suggest partisan leanings rather than neutrality. A spokesperson argued that “what we’ve seen is an unmistakable pattern of alignment with the ruling APC, which undermines their credibility as neutral cultural leaders.”
With the APC primary now concluded and a candidate in place, the zoning arrangement sets the stage for a significant political contest in 2027. The Etsu Patigi reaffirmed the council’s continued support for peace, unity, and democratic growth, while calling on God to grant President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq, and APC leaders wisdom and
