Senator Lola Ashiru, Deputy Senate Majority Leader and representative of Kwara South Senatorial District, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 Kwara State governorship election.

Speaking while receiving executive members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, at his Offa country home on Sunday, Ashiru expressed strong confidence in his victory.

"I have come into this race. Before now I have not come out to say I will contest, but in sha Allah, I am going to contest because I believe I have the best of credentials to rule Kwara State for the next four years starting in 2027 and I believe I probably understand the people and the place called Kwara because I have been here longer than any contestant," he said.

He insisted that power is not served à la carte but must be struggled for, noting that zoning sentiments, religion, or ethnic origin are not decisive factors since Kwara has previously elected governors from diverse backgrounds.

Ashiru sympathised with Kwara North for being sidelined for long but maintained that political power is taken, not given, adding that Ilorin Emirate's political preparedness does not guarantee perpetual dominance.

On the recent massacre in Kaiama, the governorship aspirant called on governments at all levels to strengthen border security by promoting shared prosperity in border communities, stressing that economically empowered communities are less likely to collaborate with criminals.

He cited Eruku-Kogi, Erile-Osun, and Koro-Ekiti axes as examples, urging neighbouring states to jointly invest in welfare and development along shared boundaries to drastically reduce insecurity.

Ashiru commended the people of Woro for their resilience in the face of the terrorist attack and praised the Federal Government's swift response while praying for the repose of the souls of the victims.