Professor Wale Sulaiman, a chieftain and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, has dismissed speculations surrounding the emergence of a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state. The APC is gearing up for the elections, with several aspirants and interest groups already mobilizing across the three senatorial districts of the state. They're preparing for a potentially intense campaign.
The Declaration
Sulaiman stated this on Thursday during his official declaration for his governorship ambition in Ilorin, the state capital. He insisted that the process for choosing the party’s candidate remains open and constitutionally guided. The APC stalwart, who formally joined the growing list of aspirants seeking to succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said reports of endorsement or zoning arrangements in favour of any aspirant should be disregarded. He won't accept any backroom deals.
"I want to let the public know that no consensus candidate has been chosen. The process of choosing a candidate is very clearly defined in the constitution of our great party and in the Electoral Act."
The Process
Sulaiman explained that for there to be a consensus candidate, all the aspirants must sign an undertaking that they're stepping down. They must also endorse the consensus candidate. If that doesn't happen, direct primaries is the remaining option. He stated, "Every other thing that you’re hearing outside is just rumour. I trust the leadership of the party to follow the constitution of APC.
We aren't law breakers. We abide by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." The party's rules are clear, and they can't be ignored.
Sulaiman praised the AbdulRazaq administration and the 2019 "Otoge" political movement, which ended the long dominance of the opposition in the state. He stated, "I thank His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for proving us right in 2019 when we did ‘Otoge’, that Kwara needed to go in a different direction." The "Otoge" movement was a significant turning point for the state.
The Aspirant
The governorship aspirant described himself as the "forerunner" in the race. He pledged to sustain the developmental strides of the current administration if elected governor. Also speaking at the event, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, Khaleed Bolaji, described Sulaiman as the preferred choice of his supporters to continue the APC government in the state. They believe Sulaiman has the skills and experience to lead the state.
The Road Ahead
The declaration comes amid mounting political permutations within the Kwara APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Recent endorsements by political groups and stakeholders have intensified conversations around possible succession arrangements within the ruling party. While some blocs have backed Senator Saliu Mustapha for the governorship seat, others have openly rallied support for businessman Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki. The party's internal dynamics are complex, and it's difficult to predict the outcome.
Zoning and Succession
The build-up to the election has exposed growing contestations within the APC over zoning, succession politics, and power balancing among Kwara Central, Kwara North, and Kwara South senatorial districts. Some stakeholders from Kwara North have continued to push for power shift to the zone in 2027, citing earlier political understandings within the party. Others insist competence rather than zoning should determine the next governor. They don't think zoning should be the only factor. The party's leadership will have to navigate these competing demands.