Ahead of the gubernatorial primaries, the Kwara State All Progressives Congress Young Stakeholders (KSAPYS) has cautioned the party’s leadership against irregularities in the selection of its flag-bearer in the state.
The group urged the party to strategically pick its governorship candidate from Kwara North to secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Isa Kayode, who led stakeholders of the group at a news conference in Ilorin, said the call for a power shift to the northern region of the state was based on electoral realities and proven voting patterns.
He said, “We wish to state clearly that we will not tolerate or allow a repeat of the irregularities and controversies that characterised the 2023 APC primary election in Kogi State. Such occurrences must be firmly rejected and condemned in the interest of party unity, internal democracy, and credibility.”
He recalled that in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 election cycles, Kwara North maintained a stable voting pattern in favour of the APC, thus contributing significantly to its overall victory margins.
Kayode explained that the region remains the most dependable electoral stronghold capable of delivering the critical bloc of votes required for victory.
“Should the party ignore our data-driven reality and field a candidate outside Kwara North, there is a high risk of fragmenting the party’s existing support base. The dependable bloc vote from Kwara North may be weakened. The party could face serious electoral setbacks, potentially conceding victory to opposition forces,” he said.
He urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to initiate a rancour-free, transparent, and consultative consensus-building process in the interest of the APC.
Kayode called on the governor to involve critical stakeholders, ensure fairness, openness, and inclusiveness, and produce a credible, competent, and broadly acceptable candidate from Kwara North among the prospective aspirants.
The spokesman assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the group’s commitment to his re-election bid in 2027.
