Kwara 2027: Kwara North Agenda and the Endorsement Game

By Femi Ogundele

The race for Kwara’s 2027 governorship is heating up again, and the usual political talk is back. People are giving endorsements, groups are making announcements, and everyone is debating which region should get the job. But what is really important in Kwara: what has happened before, what the rules say, or just how people feel?

The recent back-and forth between the Kwara 4 Kwara North Movement (K4KNM) and the Kwara Integrity Group South (APC) has made this issue clear. The K4KNM is using support from some leaders to say that it’s Kwara North’s turn in 2027. But Kwara South Integrity Group says that endorsements are just part of politics, not official or final, and the Constitution doesn’t require them.

The Constitution lets anyone who qualifies run for office, no matter where they’re from. The APC’s rules say the same thing. So, everyone can run, and no group can legally demand the ticket. The Integrity Group is pointing out that zoning isn’t in the Constitution and hasn’t been a formal thing in Kwara’s past governorship races.

Since 1999, Kwara hasn’t rotated the governorship among regions. Governors have won because of their influence, local support, party connections, and how well they did in the election. There’s no set agreement or rule that supports the idea of zoning. That’s why some people think the current push for zoning is more about feelings than history or the Constitution.

Traditional rulers are also involved in the debate, which has made things even more intense. Royal endorsements are common in Nigerian politics, but they’re more symbolic than powerful. These rulers are cultural leaders, not political decision-makers. Treating their blessings as binding could pull them into political fights, which many think would hurt their neutral position.

Some people are bringing up security issues in Kwara South to support zoning. But experts say that security is a governance problem, not a regional one. Banditry and kidnapping, like the kidnapping of the King of Bayagan, are issues across the country, not just signs of political imbalance. Critics believe that linking security to zoning oversimplifies things and distracts from what’s needed to protect communities.

Young people, especially on social media, are also talking a lot about zoning. But instead of having good discussions, many are resorting to personal insults and getting emotional. Political groups are encouraging young people to have better conversations, saying that democracies do well when ideas, not insults, guide public opinion.

So, will 2027 be the start of zoning in Kwara? Probably not, based on the Constitution, party rules, and what’s happened in the past. Unless the APC makes zoning a formal policy or everyone agrees to it, the governorship ticket is still up for grabs. And in a state where many people want to be governor, getting everyone to agree is hard.

If what’s happened before is any sign, the 2027 election will be decided by political organization, teamwork, who people like, and everyone working together after the primary. Zoning may be a hot topic, but it’s never been the deciding factor. Endorsements will keep coming, but they can’t replace the work of getting supporters and forming partnerships across the state.

As 2027 gets closer, one thing is for sure: Kwara’s governorship won’t be decided by rotation or feelings, but by competition. The state has never used a zoning plan, and there’s no reason to think this election will be different. For now, the fight to control the story continues, but the final choice will be made by the delegates, not endorsements or emotions.