Kwara APC stakeholders hint Omoniyi may be deputy governorship candidate
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
Engineer Mrs FolaShade Omoniyi, the executive chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), is being considered for the position of deputy governorship candidate and running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Engineer Yakubu Danladi Salihu, ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State.
Sources within the party indicated that consultations are ongoing regarding her possible nomination, with a final decision expected as political alignments for the election gather momentum across the state.
If selected, Omoniyi would become the first woman to contest for the office of deputy governor on the platform of a major political party in Kwara State. Her emergence would also place her in a position to become the state’s first female deputy governor since its creation in 1967.
Omoniyi is a native of Offa in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara South Senatorial District. She is widely known in the state for her contributions to public service and revenue administration.
She is currently serving her second term as executive chairman of KWIRS, where she has overseen tax reforms and revenue generation initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s internally generated revenue profile.
Before joining public service, Omoniyi built a distinguished career in the banking industry spanning more than three decades. She served as managing director and chief executive officer of First Bank Nigeria Mortgages Limited between 2016 and 2018.
Political observers believe her extensive experience in finance, administration and corporate leadership could add significant value to the APC ticket if she is eventually chosen as the deputy governorship candidate.
A reliable source familiar with the ongoing consultations told Western Post that Omoniyi’s consideration reflects the state’s growing commitment to promoting women’s participation in governance and leadership, a development that could further enhance gender inclusion in Kwara’s political landscape.
