By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin

A chieftain and gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, Professor Wale Sulaiman, has said that there was no consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state, contrary to speculations.

Sulaiman stated this on Thursday during his official declaration for the governorship race in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, insisting that the process for choosing the party’s candidate remained open and constitutionally guided.

The APC stalwart, who formally joined the growing list of aspirants seeking to succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said reports of endorsement or zoning arrangements in favour of any aspirant should be ignored.

He said, “I want to let the public know that no consensus candidate has been chosen. The process of choosing a candidate is very clearly defined in the constitution of our great party and in the Electoral Act.”

“For there to be a consensus candidate, all the aspirants must sign an undertaking that they are stepping down. Not just that, they must endorse the consensus candidate. If otherwise, direct primaries is the remaining option.”

“Every other thing that you’re hearing outside is just rumour. I trust the leadership of the party to follow the constitution of APC. We are not law breakers. We abide by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“No consensus candidate has been chosen. All rumours about zoning and endorsement should be disregarded.”

Speaking further at the event, Sulaiman praised the AbdulRazaq administration and the 2019 “Otoge” political movement which ended the long dominance of the opposition in the state.

“I thank His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for proving us right in 2019 when we did ‘Otoge’ — that Kwara needed to go in a different direction,” he said.

“I know some of you may not be feeling it, but indeed, I was part of that administration and Kwara is better because APC took over and the party is here to stay and will continue to lead the state to greater heights.”

The governorship aspirant described himself as the “forerunner” in the race and pledged to sustain the developmental strides of the current administration if elected governor.

“I want to emphasize to you that I, Professor Wale Sulaiman, CON, have fully and 100 percent emerged as the forerunner in this competition for the leadership of our state under the APC umbrella.”

“We are taking a path of progress, chosen to improve our healthcare, education, infrastructure of the state, to fight insecurity and poverty. That is what APC has done.”

“We need to sustain that progress, which I believe strongly that I am the most qualified to take Kwara State to the next level under the APC.”

“I have the capacity, capability and proven track record, and it is not just me saying it. I have been recognised for it because I am the only non-politician to be honoured by the country with one of the highest national honours as a CON.”

Sulaiman also appealed to party supporters and youths across the state to support his ambition, promising inclusive governance and economic reforms.

“Leadership is about service… coming to serve our people. I believe that the reason I am in politics is to serve.”

“I want to appeal to all our supporters, members of APC, especially my 25,000 supporters who voted for me in 2023, to come out and do it again. I am in this race to end ethnic and religious division.”

“I am in this race because I am a child of nobody that has become somebody. Our youths and students are graduating and there is no job. I decided to join the race to address this. I am offering a progressive agenda.”

Also speaking at the event, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, Khaleed Bolaji, described Sulaiman as the preferred choice of his supporters to continue the APC government in the state.

“I commend your support and patience. Your efforts will never be in vain. Keep praying for the professor to become the next governor of Kwara State,” Bolaji said.

“The reason we are here today is to pick the rightful candidate for the governorship race. We unanimously chose him to consolidate the good works of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”

“We called him, he didn’t call himself because we want a quality representation. We believe strongly in his vast experience to handle the task and deliver.”

The declaration comes amid mounting political permutations within the Kwara APC ahead of the 2027 elections, with several aspirants and interest groups already mobilising across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Recent endorsements by political groups and stakeholders have intensified conversations around possible succession arrangements within the ruling party.

While some blocs have backed Senator Saliu Mustapha for the governorship seat, others have openly rallied support for businessman Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki.

The build-up to the election has exposed growing contestations within the APC over zoning, succession politics and power balancing among Kwara Central, Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts.

Some stakeholders from Kwara North have continued to push for power shift to the zone in 2027, citing earlier political understandings within the party, while others insist competence rather than zoning should determine the next governor.