Kwara 2027: The five persons to watch
As the 2027 general elections build up with the gale of defections, new party formations, alignments and re-alignments across political parties, politicians in Kwara State are not left out in the race to succeed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in 2027.
WESTERN POST’s Correspondent in Kwara State, Mosunmola Ayobami, unveils five potential candidates for the number one seat in the state.
- Muhammed Dele Belgore
Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muhammed Dele Belgore, contested for the governorship seat in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but was defeated by Abdulfatah Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Belgore, who hails from Kwara Central, the same zone with the incumbent, is a grassroots politician and may likely declare interest in the number one seat again ahead of 2027.
- Senator Saliu Mustapha
Senator Saliu is a first-term senator who defeated Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe of the same All Progressives Congress in 2023 to represent the people of Kwara Central in the Senate.
Senator Mustapha has not hidden his ambition of becoming the next governor of the state with his philanthropic gestures to his supporters and non-supporters.
- Hon. Ali Ahmad
Hon. Ahmad is a renowned lawyer, a former House of Representatives member and a former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Ahmad, who is a Senator Bukola Saraki loyalist from time immemorial, signified interest for the gubernatorial seat in the state in 2019 but lost to Bolaji Abdullahi, the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Ali Ahmad has been seen romancing the leaders and party stalwarts and airing his views on topical issues in the state and country at large.
There are chances he may join those willing to succeed Abdulrahman as state governor come 2027.
4. Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi
Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, the current Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, is a lecturer-turned-politician from Kwara North. He represents the people of the Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency.
If the view that it is Kwara North’s turn to produce the next governor of the state is anything to go by, Danladi may well throw his hat in the ring to vie for the gubernatorial seat.
- Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq
Senator Sadiq is currently representing the people of Kwara North in the Senate.
A second-term senator, he has not fallen short of his responsibilities to his constituency.
The pharmacist may also signify interest in running for the governorship seat if given the opportunity by the party.
