The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State, Rt. Hon. Zakari Mohammed, has called for an open debate among candidates contesting the 2027 governorship election, saying voters deserve the opportunity to assess their ideas, policies and development plans for the state.

Mohammed made the call during a radio interview in Ilorin, where he outlined his vision for the development of Kwara State and argued that the state requires a different approach to governance focused on practical solutions to challenges confronting its people.

Describing Kwara as a state with enormous potential, the ADC candidate said the state had yet to fully realise its capacity in critical areas including infrastructure, economic opportunities, employment, education and healthcare.

He said the task before the next administration should be to identify the state's major development gaps, engage directly with citizens and implement policies capable of translating Kwara's potential into tangible improvements in the lives of residents.

Mohammed said his decision to seek the governorship was informed by what he described as the need to "do things differently" by placing development priorities and the concerns of ordinary citizens at the centre of governance.

He argued that the 2027 governorship contest should therefore be treated as an opportunity for citizens to interrogate the programmes and capacity of all candidates rather than allowing the political discourse to be dominated by personalities and partisan distractions.

"Let there be a debate for all the governorship candidates in Kwara State. Let everybody come out and tell the people what they can do for Kwara," he said.

"Kwara is our state. Let us identify our problems, discuss how to solve them, and let every candidate tell the people what they have for Kwara."

According to him, a properly organised debate would enable voters to hear competing policy proposals, examine the solutions being offered by each candidate and make informed assessments of their respective development agendas.

He maintained that the central question in the election should be how to address the state's challenges and improve the quality of life of its people.

On his political background and the source of support for his governorship bid, Mohammed said he was not dependent on any political godfather, attributing his political journey to his faith and support from the people of Kwara State.

"I don't have a godfather. I have my God and the people of Kwara State," he said.

He stressed that his political trajectory was based on his relationship with the electorate rather than dependence on an individual political sponsor.

The former federal lawmaker also cited his record in public service while speaking about accountability and integrity, stating that he had never had a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The claim represents Mohammed's own assertion and would require independent verification against official EFCC records.

The ADC candidate further said his ambition was driven by a desire to provide a development-oriented alternative for Kwara, with emphasis on addressing the concerns of residents and pursuing practical interventions across key sectors.

He urged political actors and citizens to shift attention towards substantive discussions about the state's development needs, insisting that Kwara deserved a serious conversation centred on ideas, policies and workable solutions.

Mohammed's call for a governorship debate comes ahead of the 2027 election, in which candidates are expected to campaign on their respective visions and policy programmes for the state.