As the 2027 election gathers momentum, interested governorship contenders across political parties in Kwara State have initiated various engagements to woo electorates and party members. Although Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq will complete his second term in 2027, political gladiators are already preparing to assume leadership of the state.

With the recently amended electoral law, the Independent National Electoral Commission will expect all political parties to produce their candidates no later than June 2026. Therefore, all serious-minded governorship aspirants will commence realignment, alliance building, and mobilisation to secure party tickets by 2025.

In Kwara State, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki is the only individual who has openly expressed interest in becoming the next governor in 2027. A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kwara State, he is also a ranking chieftain of the APC in Kwara State. He was the first candidate to step down, rallying support for the current Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq.

He served as the Director-General of the campaign that produced Governor Abdulrazaq, the 'O To Ge' Movement that unseated the political dominance of former Senate President of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki, in Kwara State. However, Daily Sun's findings reveal that there are several other aspirants for the Ahmadu Bello Government House, Ilorin, come 2027. Though these aspirants have not openly declared their intentions, their supporters have been campaigning for them through publications on social media.

Findings indicate that Governor AbdulRazaq has neither indicated which zone should produce his successor nor endorsed a particular aspirant. Meanwhile, there are strong agitations for the ceding of the gubernatorial seat to the Kwara North Senatorial District, which has not produced a governor since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999.

To date, several prominent politicians have indicated interest in contesting for Kwara's number one seat during the 2027 general elections. They include: Ambassador Yahya Seriki, Prof. Ali Ahmad, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, Hon. Yakubu Danladi, Engr. Kale Kawu, Senator Salihu Mustapha, and Senator Sadiq Umar. Although the list is extensive, these politicians have demonstrated seriousness in pursuing their governorship ambitions.

Prof. Ali Ahmad

For the Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Ali Ahmad, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is no better time than now to engage with the grassroots.

Although the minimum requirement to contest for any political seat in Nigeria is the possession of a school leaving certificate, Ali Dodo, as his supporters prefer to address him, possesses a rich resume that many of his likely contenders would envy. Born on November 23, 1965, his academic career began in 1990 at Bayero University, Kano, and continued with teaching positions at the University of Ilorin, Baze University, Abuja, and Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, among others, where he distinguished himself as a professor of constitutional law and legislative studies.

As a former member of the House of Representatives during the 7th National Assembly, representing the Ilorin East/South federal constituency, he transformed the landscape of law reforms in Nigeria with his revolutionary bill on the Administration of Criminal Justice System (ACJA). Furthermore, his legislative tenure at the National Assembly coincided with the debate, amendment, and passage of the Not-too-young-to-rule Bill, of which he became an ambassador, reducing the age limit preventing young Nigerians from running for elective positions in the country. Professionally, Ali Ahmad has practiced law in Nigeria and New York City, United States. His political career, however, began as a Special Assistant to the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in 2005.

Just as at the national level with ACJA, the academia-turned-politician's contributions to Kwara's development are very instructive. He played a key role in the creation and establishment of Kwara State University, Malete, during the administration of Governor Saraki, where he was appointed the secretary of the Feasibility Committee, Planning Committee, and Steering Committee at various times.

During his tenure as the Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly, he led the legislative house in passing laws that improved the socio-economic well-being of the state. His leadership also transformed the narrative for quality legislation, ensuring that no part of the state was excluded from the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots, and maintained a robust relationship with the administration of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Simultaneously, he demonstrated a commitment to upholding the principle of the separation of powers, resisting overtures from the executive when necessary, and adhering to the constitution when situations warranted greater legislative-executive confrontation.

Ahmad has used his political positions to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged in Ilorin Emirate and across the state. His various political assignments within and outside the state have provided him with the experience to make a difference and serve as an impetus to lead in another higher position in the state in the near future. The recent celebration of Prof. Ali Ahmad's 59th birthday in the state provided an opportunity to engage with communities across political divides and conduct wider consultations with various political groups and leaders within and outside the PDP. He also engaged Islamic scholars, youths, and women's communities.

Professor Abubakar Sulaiman

He hails from Ilorin West Local Government in Kwara Central. He previously served as Minister of National Planning during President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. He is currently serving his second term as Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja. He recently aligned his political interests with the APC after months of declaring an apolitical stance. It is recalled that former Senate President Bukola Saraki facilitated his appointment as Director-General of NILDS in 2015 as a Peoples Democratic Party member.

Mashood Mustapha

Mustapha hails from Alanamu in Ilorin West Local Government. He is a successful businessman with a focus on real estate and the hospitality industry. MM has previously served as Special Adviser and Commissioner in Kwara State. He also represented the Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2015. He was part of the gladiators who led the OTOGE revolution in 2019. Mustapha currently belongs to the APC, but he has a strained relationship with Governor Abdulrazaq. He aspired for the governorship ticket of the APC in 2018. Some political watchers opine that MM may decamp to another political party to actualize his governorship ambition. He is the Wakilin of Ilorin Emirate.

Yakubu Danladi

Danladi is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. He is the member representing the Okuta/Gwanara State Constituency of Baruten Local Government in Kwara North. He worked at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, before resigning to contest for the APC House of Assembly ticket in 2018. Danladi has a good relationship with Governor Abdulrazaq. He is seen as a representative of the youth assembly. Although the Governor has not openly stated whom he supports for the contest, political observers suggest that Danladi might be the governor's choice because of the perceived support from the Governor's allies.

Kale Kawu

Kawu is the Dan'ya of Ilorin Emirate and an engineer. He hails from Ilorin South Local Government. He is the Executive Secretary of the Rural Electrification Agency. He has yet to openly declare for any political party, but the Ilorin-born technocrat has his eyes on the Kwara governorship seat come 2027.

Senator Saliu Mustapha

Senator Mustapha is the Turaki of Ilorin. He represents the Kwara Central Senatorial District on the APC platform. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and once served as Deputy National Chairman of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC). He has wide political support beyond Kwara Central. He aspired for the Kwara Governorship seat in 2018 and the APC National Chairmanship in 2021/2022.

Senator Sadiq Umar

Senator Umar is serving his second term as the representative of the Kwara North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He a pharmacist and hails from Kaiama Local Government Area. He enjoys a large following in his district.

As of now, these are the names that have emerged concerning the 2027 governorship contest in Kwara State. Although the name of Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf was mentioned by some residents of Kwara State, this was swiftly debunked by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, AbdulRauf Opeyemi, who stated that the ADC to President Bola Tinubu and Elemona of Ilemona land has no political ambition. The aide said; "I am writing to clarify a matter of utmost importance regarding the recent allegations that have surfaced online suggesting that Oba Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, Elemona of Ilemona land, and also the ADC to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has aspirations to run for the governorship in Kwara State in 2027. We aim to debunk these claims and shed light on the true nature of Oba Yusuf's character and intentions. Col. Yusuf has no interest in politics. His roles are centered around supporting the president in official capacities and upholding the duties of a military officer."

Meanwhile, there are strong agitations for the ceding of the gubernatorial seat to the Kwara North Senatorial District, which has not produced a governor since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999. Political analysts are of the opinion that if the Kwara North Senatorial District wants to secure the slot, they must first unite to pursue the cause, or else they stand to lose it to other zones, as they had the opportunity to do so in 2023. When the PDP zoned the governorship slot to the district with Yaman Abdullahi as a candidate, they voted against him due to a lack of purpose and disunity among the various Local Council areas, hindering the senatorial district's chances.