The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has intensified its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the party’s statewide ‘thank you’ tour moved to the Central Senatorial District.
The campaign-style engagement, which began in Afon, headquarters of Asa Local Government Area, and continued in Ilorin West, was used by the party’s candidates to rally grassroots support and seek the backing of traditional rulers, religious leaders, stakeholders and party members.
The delegation was led by the APC governorship candidate and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi.
The visit followed the completion of the tour in Kwara South, with party leaders using the occasion to highlight the achievements of the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and solicit support for APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
In Ilorin West, Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Usman Abubakar Atolagbe Jos, who spoke on behalf of the Emir of Ilorin, said the visit demonstrated the party’s respect for the traditional institution.
He said the Emir had directed Magajis, Alanguas and Daudus in the local government to receive the APC candidates.
‘When we heard you were coming to Ilorin West, the Emir of Ilorin, under whom this local government is, mandated us to receive you,’ he said.
Balogun prayed for the success of the candidates at the polls and for the successful completion of Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration.
Similarly, Kolapo Abdulkadir, the District Head of Balah, who led other district heads in Asa Local Government to receive the delegation, prayed for Danladi and other APC candidates and pledged strong grassroots support for the party.
Responding, Danladi thanked traditional rulers, religious leaders, party stakeholders and supporters for their support, assuring them that the party would not disappoint them.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration had made efforts to stabilise the country and expressing confidence in the President’s re-election bid.
‘The President has done a lot and, by His grace, the second term is assured for continuity of progress and development,’ Danladi said.
He urged APC supporters to remain confident ahead of the elections, assuring them that the party was determined to retain power in the State.
‘We are here to thank the people of Ilorin West. That is the purpose of coming here today. We are here to reassure you that, by His grace, as you stand for APC, we are going to win,’ he said.
Danladi also appealed to the people to sustain their support for Governor Abdulrazaq, saying the administration had made significant interventions in Ilorin West and across the State.
‘You already know what your son, His Excellency Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has done for Ilorin West and Kwara State in general. What he is doing will never stop. You will not be disappointed for having SYD,’ he said.
The member of the House of Representatives representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency and APC candidate for the seat, Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya, expressed confidence that the party’s candidates would win the 2027 elections.
Shagaya said Kwarans would not want to reverse the gains recorded under the APC administration, urging voters to support continuity.
Also speaking, Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, the Chairman of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authoriity said the Abdulrazaq administration’s achievements were partly enabled by the support it received from the legislature.
Alakawa, an indigene of Asa, described Danladi as a grassroots politician with electoral value and commended him for providing the governor with legislative support to implement his programmes.
Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, Professor and Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said Asa Local Government had benefited from the state government’s interventions in education, roads, healthcare and social investment.
He said the projects and programmes implemented by the administration had impacted various communities across the local government.
A party elder in Asa, Issa Amasa, commended Danladi’s integrity, humility and competence, urging him to remain accessible to the people if elected governor.