Kwara APC: Restaging Of 1979 Scenario In The Air Ahead Of 2027 Guber Election
Ahead of the 2027 Kwara State governorship election, the development recorded on Saturday has shown that there is a possibility for the restaging of the 1979 scenario in the state APC.
Recall that a total number of 13 political parties fielded candidates for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election and the names and details of their candidates and the running mates were displayed at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Olorunsogo, Ilorin on Saturday.
The candidates and the parties that have gotten the go-ahead from the electoral umpire are Action Alliance, APP, ADC, NDC, Accord Party, SDP, ADP, APC, PDP, NNPP, NDP, APGA and APM.
The gist here is that while 12 among the political parties in question have taken definitive decisions on who should be their deputy governorship candidates that of the APC is according to a source ‘tentative’ because of dichotomy of interest and the competing priorities and loyalties.
While some birds whispered that Bello Mubarak Salau is simply a placeholder, others said the state APC may have taken a resolute decision to allow ‘voting blocs’ dwarf religious considerations.
The state APC bigwigs and stakeholders are reportedly facing ‘choice overload’ and they are finding it difficult to take a definitive decision on the issue.
If APC eventually settles for the same-faith gubernatorial ticket, the party will be restaging the 1979 scenario in which the governor, Alhaji Adamu Attah and the Deputy Governor, Chief Jimoh Shittu from Offa, were both Muslims.
Sources told Team@orientactualmags.com that although former Senator Khairat Gwadabe was instrumental in Bello Mubarak Salau’s emergence as deputy governorship candidate, a Christian may eventually emerge as his replacement if the party leaders have a decision-switch and settle for a mixed-faith governorship ticket.
Also, if measures are taken to address the rumbling of annoyance in the Offa axis and the Deputy Governorship candidate is sourced from there, the person may end Salau’s ‘placeholder’ role.
The state APC is said to be weighing options and yet to decide if Ilorin/Offa voting blocs or religion should be prioritized or the party should simply maintain the status quo.
‘Offa people are grumbling but once they do not get the Deputy Governorship slot, the next Speaker of the House of Assembly will definitely be an indigene of the town’ said a political pundit, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Those who have had their names mentioned as possible replacements include Prince Sunday Fagbemi, and Mrs Shade Omoniyi.
In the meanwhile, it was rumoured on Saturday that Alhaji Hakeem Lawal , son of late Admiral Mohammed Lawal may be considered for nomination as deputy governorship candidate by the party while some others said Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who is the Kwara Central APC senate candidate, may withdraw from the race, make concessions and allow the former governor’s son stand as a candidate in the senate election.
Another source also said Hakeem Lawal entering 2027 Kwara Central senate race is impossible because the deadline for substitution of candidates by political parties has already expired.
Recall that Speaker Yakubu Salihu Danladi had emerged as the state APC guber candidate after getting declared winner of the gubernatorial primary held on Friday, May 22, 2026 by Chairman of the Kwara State APC Governorship Primary Committee, former senator Musliu Obanikoro.
He noted that Speaker Danladi got 94,990 votes, Alhaji Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki had 41,700 votes while Dr. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa got 22,118 votes.
Engr. Femi Sani had 5,519 votes; former Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe got 3,920 votes; Mr Dele Belgore SAN had 3,411 votes; Hon Mohamed Bio got 1122 votes; Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin, 1099 votes; Prof. Wale Suleiman, 2434 votes while Prof. Abubakar Suleiman got 1722 votes-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
