Kwara 2027: Political Sentiment and The Truth Behind Zoning

By Yahaya Habib

A key issue shaping Kwara State’s political discourse today is the push for the governorship to be zoned to Kwara North, especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While some in the APC argue for maintaining the ticket in Kwara Central—pointing out that the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), might choose its candidate from the Central district—the reality is more complex. Many actors are pursuing their own personal or group interests rather than a sincere commitment to fair zoning.

Supporters of zoning the governorship to Kwara North claim that the region has been marginalized for too long. Since 1999, Kwara Central has held the governorship for 18 years, and Kwara South for 8 years, leaving Kwara North without its turn.

This argument appears valid-Kwara North arguably deserves a chance to lead. However, the motives behind this agitation are often questionable. Even some individuals from Kwara Central backing Kwara North’s bid are motivated less by regional loyalty and more by strategic political calculations.

Looking at the 2023 PDP gubernatorial election, when the party zoned its ticket to Kwara North, the candidate recorded poor results in the region. The outcome reflected that the candidate’s selection did not resonate with most Kwara Northerners’ interests or biases.

Let’s be honest: quite often, the debate isn’t really about whether the governor comes from Kwara North, South, or Central. It’s mainly about what individuals stand to gain. Many supporters from Kwara Central backing certain candidates from the North are motivated by personal relationships and the benefits they expect if that candidate wins, rather than genuine regional allegiance.

Similarly, those calling for centralized power in Kwara Central are often driven less by love for Ilorin and more by their connections to specific Central candidates and frictions with aspirants from other regions.

In fact, some Kwara Northerners openly support aspirants from Kwara Central, revealing that the underlying issues are not always about zonal fairness but personal interests.

History shows this pattern: back in 2011, when Dele Belgore—a candidate from Kwara Central—challenged Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed from Kwara South, Belgore received more support from the South than from his own Central region. This demonstrates that claims of fair zoning are sometimes more rhetorical than genuine.

It’s high time we stop publicly advocating zoning while secretly pursuing personal ambitions and biases. I believe Kwara North deserves an opportunity to govern, but not at the expense of genuine development—one that benefits the entire state rather than a privileged few.