Prof. Wale Sulaiman Backs APC for 2027 Kwara Victory, Urges Party Unity After Primary Dispute

Former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, has expressed confidence that the ruling party will retain control of the state in the 2027 governorship election, citing its governance record and internal strength despite ongoing disagreements over the party’s primary process.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Sulaiman said the APC remained well-positioned to secure another electoral victory in Kwara, arguing that its achievements in governance would outweigh opposition campaigns when voters head to the polls. He maintained that the party had recorded measurable progress in areas such as healthcare, education, sports infrastructure and general development, giving it an advantage ahead of the next election.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the APC governorship primary, Sulaiman said grievances over the conduct of the exercise should have been raised while the process was ongoing rather than after a winner had emerged. According to him, political parties have established internal mechanisms for resolving disputes, and members are expected to respect those procedures.

The former aspirant also referenced earlier remarks by President Bola Tinubu on party leadership, saying governors, as leaders of their respective state party structures, had been empowered to guide the process of choosing their successors.

“In Kwara State, the leader of the party is Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The president said governors had been given the consent to choose their successors,” Sulaiman said.

While describing the post-primary disagreements as a contest that continued after a winner had already emerged, he called for clearer succession guidelines within political parties to reduce future disputes and strengthen internal democracy.

Sulaiman urged political actors to shift their attention from internal party disagreements to the pressing concerns of residents, including insecurity, unemployment, education, healthcare and infrastructure. He said the focus of the 2027 campaigns should be on competence, leadership ability and practical solutions to the state’s challenges rather than prolonged disputes over party primaries.

He also encouraged Kwarans to demand greater accountability from elected officials regardless of political affiliation, stressing that citizens should actively engage leaders on issues affecting governance and development.