2027: Christian governor can emerge in Kwara, says Iyiola Oyedepo

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State and two-time commissioner, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, says nothing forbids a Christian from emerging as governor in 2027, warning that excluding candidates based on religion could worsen sectarian tensions already threatening Nigeria’s fragile peace.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday in Ilorin, the legal practitioner and politician, who also served as Chief Whip of the Kwara State House of Assembly and was a prominent figure in the historic ‘O to ge’ movement, urged Kwarans to reject divisive politics and choose Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s successor based on competence and fairness.

Oyedepo dismissed claims that the next governor must be a Muslim, insisting that all citizens contribute to Kwara’s development and that “it is nowhere written that a Christian cannot rule the state.”

He said those opposed to a Christian governor represent a very small minority, noting that most Muslims in Kwara only desire good governance regardless of a candidate’s religious background.

The elder statesman argued that religion has long been exploited as a political tool rather than a true reflection of voters’ beliefs, describing the claim that a Christian cannot win in Kwara as self-serving and against public interest.

Drawing from his experience during the O to ge revolution, he said issue-based campaigns and sincere engagement with the people — including Muslim communities — remain the surest path to electoral success.

Oyedepo recounted how some clerics once thought he had mystical powers because of his influence, stressing that it was not magic but genuine communication with the people. “That’s what politics should be,” he said.

He warned that allowing religious bigotry to shape politics could have grave national consequences, especially with global attention on Nigeria following America’s designation of the country as one of “particular concern” over religious intolerance, adding that leadership must unite, not divide.