2027: G15 has not lost any member, Oloriegbe declares, backs ‘rainbow’ coalition

…says group will work for Tinubu while supporting other candidates in Kwara

…says AbdulRazaq is desperate to establish another family dynasty, urges Kwara Central voters to back Mustapha

…faults AbdulRazaq over projects, says none except one has created employment, economic impact

Former Kwara Central Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe has dismissed claims of divisions within the aggrieved APC bloc formerly known as G15, saying all members of the group remain united as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

Oloriegbe, who spoke at an event organised by The Otoge Progressives (TOP), the expanded political movement that emerged from the G15, said the group would pursue a “rainbow” political strategy in 2027 by supporting candidates across different political parties while backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He said only one politician, Saba, had attended one meeting of the group before the G15 parted ways with him after discovering that he was “doing two ways”.

“G15 has not lost any member. Saba was only with us in one meeting. When we discovered he was doing two ways, we parted ways with him. We never personally included him among us. All others are very much with us. One hundred per cent. We are all here,” Oloriegbe said.

The former senator said the group was opposed to political violence and would continue to pursue its political activities peacefully, despite what he described as attempts to frustrate its programmes.

He said the group had to change the venue of its latest programme after it was allegedly prevented from using its initial venue.

“Our people insisted we must use the place, but because we want a peaceful Kwara, we had to change the venue. It is not fear. Tell them to be careful. We don’t fear anyone,” he said.

Oloriegbe also rejected allegations that members of the group were driven by selfish political interests, arguing that many of them had supported Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s political journey despite disagreements that later emerged.

He recalled that about 12 people contested the 2018 governorship ticket and said political elders at the time appealed to the other aspirants to support AbdulRazaq.
He said they accepted the appeal and worked for AbdulRazaq in 2019 and again supported him in 2023, but alleged that most of those who helped him to power had since fallen out with his administration.

“He was in my house during 2019. He would come and sit from morning till evening. But what has he done today? We all worked, but what else? Despite what he did to us, we still supported him in 2023,” Oloriegbe said.

He accused the governor of attempting to establish another political dynasty in Kwara by supporting his family members for elective positions.

“After doing governorship for eight years, they said his family must become senator. That they want to build another dynasty. Are we planning to remove another family dynasty for another one?” he asked.

Oloriegbe stressed that the group had nothing against Kwara North, saying its demand was for a fair political process and equal opportunity for all political actors.

He also criticised the AbdulRazaq administration over its projects, questioning their impact on employment and the economic wellbeing of residents.

“Among all these projects they say he is doing, which one has improved Kwarans’ lives? Of all the projects, which one will provide employment and directly impact people? Except the hospital. Nothing else in his seven years in office,” he alleged.

The former senator also accused the state government of failing to adequately deploy increased federal revenue following the removal of fuel subsidy to projects that could cushion its impact on residents.
He said the additional revenue available to states should be used for projects with direct economic impact and measures capable of reducing the hardship caused by subsidy removal.

On the 2027 elections, Oloriegbe said TOP would adopt a cross-party strategy while maintaining its support for Tinubu.

“We are going to do rainbow in 2027. We will vote for different parties. We were with Tinubu before this governor. We will work for Asiwaju. We know how to do it. We have done it before and we will do it again. We will teach our people how to vote,” he said.

Turning specifically to Kwara Central, Oloriegbe urged Ilorin stakeholders to support Senator Saliu Mustapha, saying the constituency needed a representative who would listen to the concerns of residents.

“The governor is not part of us in Ilorin. I am originally from Ilorin. We need to vote for one of us as Senator representing Kwara Central,” he said.

“Our people need jobs. They need employment at the federal level. What AbdulRazaq is doing is wrong. Ilorin will not be number two. Let us all come out and vote for Saliu Mustapha,” Oloriegbe added.