2027 Kwara Guber: APC chieftain, Suleiman warns Tinubu over zoning of APC ticket

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to be careful when contemplating the allocation of the party’s governorship ticket to Kwara North in anticipation of the 2027 elections.

Prof. Suleiman’s remarks arise amidst ongoing deliberations within the ruling party regarding the potential rotation of power to the northern zone of the state, in response to calls for inclusivity and political equilibrium.

In statements shared on his social media platforms, Suleiman, who serves as the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, recognized that zoning and power rotation are vital strategies for managing diversity in a state such as Kwara.

Nevertheless, he stressed that zoning should be evaluated alongside electoral implications.

“I do not oppose zoning or power rotation, and I comprehend the demands from those who assert it is their turn,” he stated. “However, the pivotal question is how zoning correlates with electoral success.”

He indicated that political parties generally base such decisions on quantifiable elements, including voter demographics, political frameworks, and historical voting trends. He warned that if these elements do not favor a specific zone, zoning could undermine a party’s prospects.

“No political party is willing to risk zoning to an area where it does not perceive a competitive edge,” he said.

Mr. Suleiman referred to the 2023 general elections, pointing out that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made strategic errors and returned with negative outcomes. He noted that the party has since learned from its mistakes and is now shifting its zoning back to Kwara Central to secure electoral benefits.

The NILDS DG also responded to appeals from stakeholders in Kwara North, who have contended that assigning the governorship to their region would foster fairness and inclusion.

He characterized such requests as valid but warned that they must be evaluated within the larger goal of achieving electoral victories.

Mr Suleiman cautioned that choices made primarily out of sentiment or a sense of duty, rather than electoral feasibility, could subject the APC to unwarranted risks.

He urged party leaders, including the president and the governor, to thoroughly analyze the political environment prior to reaching a conclusive decision.

“It would be perilous to adopt a stance that does not position the party advantageously for victory,” he stated.