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From Kenneth Udeh
Popular public affairs commentator and journalist Shola Shittu has weighed in on the unfolding succession debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State, arguing that zoning, consensus, and leadership quality must jointly guide the All Progressives Congress (APC) in choosing its next flagbearer.
In a detailed political commentary on Sunday, Shittu noted that as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approaches the end of his second and final term, political engagements in the state have moved beyond speculation into what he described as “serious strategic thinking” about the future of Kwara.
According to him, the conversation has shifted from whether power should rotate to how the rotation should be managed and who possesses the competence, temperament and political capital to lead the state into its next phase of development.
Shittu drew attention to what he described as the long-standing marginalisation of Kwara North Senatorial District, noting that the zone has had only a fleeting experience in the governorship seat during the short-lived civilian administration of Governor Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi between 1992 and 1993, which was cut short by the November 1993 military coup.
He argued that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Kwara North has remained excluded from executive leadership despite its population strength, geographical size and consistent electoral contributions to the state.
“This historical imbalance has created legitimate feelings of political alienation and makes the 2027 election a defining moment not just for Kwara North, but for the long-term cohesion of Kwara State,” Shittu said.
Zoning not enough, competence required
While acknowledging zoning as a strong moral and political argument, the commentator cautioned that zoning alone does not guarantee good governance.
“Power rotation without competence,” he warned, “risks replacing one form of dissatisfaction with another.”
Shittu stressed that Kwara State requires a governor with administrative depth, economic understanding, political maturity and the capacity to unify diverse interests across the state.
Consensus push and emergence of Sadiq Umar
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He observed that political stakeholders in Kwara North have begun to close ranks ahead of the APC primaries, opting for consultations and consensus-building rather than parallel ambitions that could weaken the zone’s chances.
According to Shittu, consultations involving traditional rulers, party elders, youth and women leaders, technocrats and opinion shapers have intensified, leading to the gradual emergence of Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (3SU) as a unifying figure.
He noted that Senator Umar’s acceptability has expanded beyond Kwara North to Kwara Central and Kwara South, where he is increasingly seen as a bridge-builder rather than a sectional politician.
Credentials, experience and electability
Shittu highlighted Senator Umar’s background as a prince of Kaiama in the Borgu Kingdom, his academic qualifications from Ahmadu Bello University and his professional experience in public health, humanitarian response and international development.
He also pointed to Umar’s unbroken electoral record, having won the Kwara North senatorial seat in both 2019 and 2023 with wide margins, describing this as evidence of strong grassroots support and political organisation.
Within the National Assembly, Shittu referenced Umar’s leadership roles, including his positions as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, as indicators of institutional confidence in his capacity.
The commentator further cited Senator Umar’s constituency interventions across Kwara North, ranging from schools and healthcare facilities to roads, electrification, agricultural support, scholarships and medical outreaches.
He also described Umar as a loyal party man and a consistent supporter of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration, noting his alignment with the APC’s progressive ideology and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shittu concluded that while Kwara North’s aspiration to produce the next governor is legitimate, its success depends on discipline, unity and strategic consensus.
According to him, irrespective of whether the APC formally zones its ticket to Kwara North or adopts another selection method, Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar stands out as the most credible and strategic option when measured against experience, competence, acceptability, loyalty and electability.
He described the 2027 governorship race as a rare opportunity for Kwara State, urging political actors to act with foresight as the stakes continue to rise.
