The lackluster performance of the opposition group in Kwara State did not make the terrain an eventful one in the year 2012. So weak was the opposition group that it has become extremely difficult to identify the arrowhead of the group.

Unlike in the active days of late Josiah Sunday Olawoyin on the political scene, when his popularity as the Leader of the Opposition in the state was almost at par with that of the state's governor, the ruling people's Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara has spread its dragnets and ensnared perceived staunch opposition members into its camp. The likes of Chief Wole Oke, the most vocal critic of PDP in the state and Chief Teju Oguntoye are now proud members of the ruling party.

At present, the perceived shining light for the opposition group, chief Cornelius Adebayo has left the scene for so long that many political analysts believe that his long absence could mean a tactical withdrawal "from the long battle to make the state belong to the progressive camp."

To dim whatever hope the opposition group may have in future, it was believed that 2012 is the year the former governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Dele Belgore (SAN) and the national Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed fanned the ember of an alleged discord between them. Although Mohammed had frantically dismissed the claim, sources said the claim was indeed a face saving one.

A distinct characteristic of the opposition members in the state is that they seldom visit home until when the election is at the eleventh hour. The disarray in the opposition camp was a blessing to the ruling party as the party faithful had an all the year field day.

The PDP with its "continuity" slogan coined to see the governance of the incumbent Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed as an extension of that of his immediate predecessor, Dr Bukola Saraki, discharged its duty without much challenge.

The development, perhaps embolden the party to successfully challenge the victory of the ACN sole council chairman in the state, Saheed Popoola from Offa LGA. The lower tribunal had ruled in favour of the PDP candidate, Prince Segun Olanipekun. The ACN had promptly appealed the decision at the upper tribunal. Political observers are watching with keen interest what will be the outcome of the face-off.

Looking at major political events in the year without reference to the demise of the political titan of the state's politics, Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin would be incomplete. Saraki, who had a firm grip over the state politics for over four decades died on November 14, 2012.

While the death continued to serve as a monumental loss to his followers, considering his wealth of political experience, the members of the political dynasty have quickly gone for the heir apparent to the throne, Bukola, now a Senator representing Kwara Central, paying obeisance to him the same way they used to relate with his dad, popularly called Olooye, among his followers.

At present, no one within the empire had challenged the leadership of Bukola, and it is not likely anyone will do in a hurry. The situation could thus be encapsulated as the one that had made the PDP in the state stronger, while the opposition continued to grope in the dark. The Guardian investigations showed that the motley crowd that used to surround the Ilorin 'Ile Loke House' of Olooye during his lifetime has not reduced each time Bukola is around.

One major area of strength for the members of the ruling party is the firm control the Speaker of the state's House of Assembly; Abdulrazak Atunwa has over the running of the affairs of the House. Atunwa's leadership method is not only acceptable to the PDP members in the House, but also extended to members of the opposition. In the House, there was no major report of any outbreak of hostility apart from "a minor communication gap" between Iliasu Ibrahim, (Moro/Olooru) and the Speaker. The event had since been trashed and amicably resolved by Bukola, 'the Leader'.