ADC promises to end APC rule in Kwara by 2027

The African Democratic Congress plans to end the All Progressives Congress’ eight years in power in Kwara State during the 2027 general elections.

The party believes it is the best choice for residents unhappy with the current government.

This announcement was made on Wednesday when party supporters gathered in Ilorin, the state capital, for a 13-kilometre walk. The party called this event a show of its increasing popularity ahead of the elections.

Speaking to reporters after the rally, the ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the crowd showed Kwarans want a new political path. He noted that the state has not achieved the goals set by the 2019 ‘Otoge’ movement.

He said, “There was a reason for Otoge in 2019. It was like an exodus; a departure from Egypt, where people had grown tired of the government at the time. We left Egypt, which was the PDP, eight years ago, but we have now realised that we are yet to arrive at the promised land.

“If, after leaving Egypt eight years ago, we are still wandering in the wilderness, should we return to Egypt? Certainly not. We must continue the journey until we reach the promised land. The PDP was Egypt, the APC represents the wilderness, and the ADC is the promised land.”

Abdullahi stated the party believes the dissatisfaction with both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party will help them win in 2027.

He said, “We are confident that we will win both at the national and state levels because the ADC is the only party with a clear vision of what it wants to do for Nigerians.

“The APC continues to market the Renewed Hope Agenda, but to many Nigerians it has remained a slogan without meaningful impact. As for the PDP, it is no longer the formidable opposition it once was. The only credible alternative before Nigerians today is the African Democratic Congress.”

The former Minister of Sports mentioned that the party is open to welcoming politicians from other parties but will not compromise its values.

He added, “They have not approached us yet, but if they do, they will be welcomed into our fold; not the other way round.

“If they recognise that we stand for higher ideals and decide to identify with us, they will be accepted. However, they must be prepared to play by our rules. We will not play by theirs because Nigerians have already seen the kind of politics they represent.

“They represent the politics of yesterday which has been rejected, while we represent a new political culture founded on principle, accountability and service. Politics is about numbers, and every genuine addition strengthens the party.”

On the recent Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed the suit against the ADC’s registration, Abdullahi called it a win for the party.

“The appellate court made it clear that the earlier decision amounted to judicial rascality and insubordination. That simply confirms what we have maintained all along.

“We are pleased that the Court of Appeal upheld the rule of law, but we are not going to celebrate a court for merely doing what is right. We remain courteously delighted,” he said.

Regarding the 2027 governorship race, Abdullahi is sure that ADC’s candidate, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, will beat APC’s Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, even though both come from the same local government area in Kwara North.

Abdullahi said, “Incidentally, both our candidate, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, and the APC candidate are from the same local government. Therefore, the people of Kwara North know both men very well and are in the best position to judge who possesses the better experience and leadership capacity.

“With due respect, how can someone with the wealth of political and administrative experience that Zakari Muhammed possesses be compared with a young man whose highest political office has been serving as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly?

“The people of Kwara North have waited for years for the opportunity to produce the state’s governor. Now that the opportunity has come, they deserve to choose the better candidate, and we believe that candidate is Zakari Muhammed.”

He also mentioned that it is time for power to shift to Kwara North after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s tenure.

“It is politically wrong and morally unjust for someone from Ilorin to govern the state for eight years and then be succeeded by another person from the same local government.

“We want to build a Kwara where every part of the state feels a sense of belonging. Unity can only be sustained on the foundation of justice, and justice requires that the next governor should emerge from Kwara North,” he added.

When asked if the party trusts the Independent National Electoral Commission to run a fair election, Abdullahi said the ADC prefers to be vigilant rather than trust the electoral body.

He noted, “It is not about trusting INEC. We acknowledge that there are people within the commission who remain committed to doing the right thing, but we are not going into the election relying on trust.

“We trusted the process in 2023 and saw what happened. This time, our focus is on protecting every vote. That is why we always say that whether the election is free and fair or otherwise, President Bola Tinubu will lose because we will ensure that every vote cast for the ADC counts.”

Commenting on Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration, Abdullahi said the governor has achieved some things but could have done better by focusing more on the people's needs.

“My concern has always been governance. I genuinely believe Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq could have done much better than he has done.

“I will not join those who are fighting him for political reasons because he is not my enemy. As a citizen of Kwara State, my responsibility is to assess governance objectively.

“I believe he could have carried the people along more effectively and paid greater attention to their needs and expectations. My criticism is about governance, not about him as a person,” he said.

Abdullahi also said the large turnout at the rally shows the growing trust in the ADC. He said the party did better than expected, even without the financial power of its rivals.

He emphasised, “You can see the mammoth crowd. During the planning stage, we were genuinely worried because we do not have the kind of money some political parties use to mobilise crowds.

“We expected that turnout would be modest, but we were pleasantly surprised to see thousands of people voluntarily join us in a 13-kilometre walk from Adeta Roundabout to this venue.

“Even more remarkable was the fact that nobody dropped out along the way. That level of commitment tells us that people are genuinely looking for an alternative and believe the ADC represents that alternative.”

ADC senatorial candidate for Kwara North, Taoheed Usman, also spoke. He said the rally showed the party’s growing acceptance among the public.

He claimed, “The strength of the ADC in Kwara is extraordinary. The turnout we witnessed today speaks for itself, and I doubt whether any other political party has attracted such a crowd anywhere in the country in recent times.

“We have rebuilt our structure, reconnected with the people and returned stronger than before. Today, we enjoy a significant advantage because people are beginning to see the ADC as the platform capable of bringing genuine change.”

On security issues in the state, Usman assured residents that an ADC-led government would prioritize security along with development goals.

“We recognise that insecurity remains one of the greatest challenges confronting our communities. Without adequate security, meaningful development cannot take place.

“Our agenda is straightforward. We will strengthen security, improve education and healthcare, expand agricultural development and run an inclusive government where every citizen has a sense of belonging and equal opportunity,” he noted.