Amid G15 breakout, PDP moves, Kwara transporters endorse AbdulRazaq’s Danladi

As political realignments continue to reshape the build-up to the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State, transport unions on Thursday endorsed the governorship candidacy of Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, while passing a vote of confidence in the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The endorsement came hours after a coalition of aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the G15 platform unveiled the Oto ge Progressives movement and declared they would remain open to “all legitimate political options,” amid ongoing political calculations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement with the leadership of the APC in Ilorin, leaders of the transport unions said their decision was informed by what they described as the AbdulRazaq administration’s sustained investments in road infrastructure, empowerment programmes and welfare initiatives targeting transport operators.

The unions comprised the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

Chairman of MOUN and Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Tinuola, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for what he described as consistent support for transport operators across the state, saying the administration had created opportunities for members of the unions beyond their expectations.

“Words are not enough to thank our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for what he has been doing to our members and other transporters. He has empowered us on several occasions and we know he will continue to empower us,” Tinuola said.

He described his emergence as chairman of Irepodun Local Government as a reflection of the governor’s inclusive leadership.

“My case is a typical example. The Governor saw me as a transporter before supporting my nomination and election as Council Chairman. This tells a lot about his leadership style and his support for transporters in the state. We therefore thank and assure the Governor that our support and vote are for APC candidates,” he added.

Chairman of tricycle operators under the NURTW, Lawal Kamaldeen, also lauded the governor for prioritising the welfare of transport workers across the state, pledging that members of the union would reciprocate the gesture with massive support for APC candidates in future elections.

Similarly, Chairman of tricycle operators under the RTEAN, Abdullateef Arigbabuwo, said members of the transport unions had benefited immensely from the administration through tricycle donations, road infrastructure projects and social investment programmes.

“During this government there are a lot of positive changes in the affairs of the transport unions in the state. The government has achieved greatly and has also given us enormous support by firstly donating tricycles to our members. It also constructed motorable roads for the comfort of road users,” he said.

Responding, the Governor’s Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, thanked the transport unions for what he described as their unwavering support, saying the vote of confidence reflected the appreciation of transport operators for the administration’s interventions over the past seven years.

“As you have witnessed, the entirety of members of motorcycle and tricycle riders in Kwara State under their various unions have come together to pass a vote of confidence in the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. This is a demonstration of their massive appreciation of the support they have enjoyed under the administration in the last seven years,” Salau said.

He added that the governor had continued to recognise transport workers as critical stakeholders, citing the appointment and eventual emergence of a transporter as chairman of Irepodun Local Government as an example of the administration’s inclusive leadership.

State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, also appreciated the transport unions for their continued support for the party and the state government, urging them to sustain the relationship.

He defended the process that produced Danladi as the APC governorship candidate, insisting that the same procedure had been adopted in selecting the party’s candidates for the presidential, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

“I want to tell you that Kwara APC followed the right process to choose our candidates. The process that we used to produce our candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly is the same process that we used to choose our governorship candidate. Those who are dissatisfied with the outcome have the right to express their opinions, but not to the extent of demarketing the party,” Fagbemi said.

He further described transport unions as largely youth-driven organisations, saying the AbdulRazaq administration had focused on empowering young people rather than using them for political purposes.

Other dignitaries at the event, including Commissioner for Transportation Aliyu Kora Sabi, Chairman of the Niger River Basin Development Authority Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah and General Manager of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASIP), Dr Abdulwasiu Tejidini, also commended the transport unions for their support and pledged continued government interventions to strengthen their businesses and improve members’ livelihoods.