Kwara 2027: Group backs Yahaya Seriki’s governorship bid

A Kwara-based group, the Elites Youth Network, has endorsed the Chairman of Kursi Investment Limited, Amb. Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election in the state.

The group announced its position in a statement issued over the weekend in Ilorin by its convener, Arc. Abdulazeez Salihu.

It described Seriki as a strong option for the state’s future leadership and urged stakeholders in Kwara and Abuja to support his ambition.

“The future of Kwara will be brighter under his leadership. We call on all party stakeholders in Kwara and Abuja to support him for continued progress, unity and prosperity,” Abdulazeez said in the statement.

The group said Seriki would sustain and improve on the policies of the current administration, which is expected to end in 2027 if elected.

It described Seriki as “a man whose track record speaks louder than campaign rhetoric,” adding that his interventions across communities in Kwara cannot be ignored.

“He has consistently shown commitment to youth empowerment, job creation and community development,” the group said. “Across the state, there are programmes and philanthropic projects that have directly impacted livelihoods.”

The statement added that Seriki’s business experience gives him an edge in governance.

“We are talking about someone who has led a multinational investment structure and is one of the prominent players in Nigeria’s mining sector. That kind of exposure is critical for a state like Kwara that is in need of serious economic expansion,” it said.

“Kwara needs a governor who understands investment, who understands jobs, and who understands how to attract capital. Yahaya Seriki fits into that mould,” Abdulazeez added.

The group also stressed that Seriki’s ambition is rooted in continuity and inclusiveness.

“We believe he will build on what the current administration has started, not disrupt it. He will be a governor for all, regardless of political or regional affiliation,” it said.

It added that Seriki’s priorities, if elected, would include healthcare, education and infrastructure.

“We expect a leadership that will strengthen our hospitals, improve access to quality education, and expand infrastructure across rural and urban communities,” the group said, adding that he also has a clear vision of industrialising Kwara.

“That means moving the state from a consumption-based economy to a production and investment-driven economy,” it added.

Who is Yahaya Seriki

Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari, a business magnate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, formally declared his governorship ambition a few weeks ago.

He was a governorship aspirant of the APC in the 2019 election in Kwara State and later emerged as a key figure in the party’s political structure. He also stepped down during the 2019 primaries to support Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Seriki served as Director-General of the campaign that brought the current governor into office and was a participant in the “O To Ge” movement that ended the Saraki political dominance in the state.

Declaring his ambition in March, Seriki said: “I am ready to serve, to listen and to build a greater Kwara where no zone is left behind and no citizen is forgotten.”

Aspiration draws support

Meanwhile, political mobilisation in support of his ambition has continued across parts of Ilorin.

In Gambari community, residents held a special prayer session organised by the Sarkin Gambari of Ilorin, attended by traditional rulers, clerics, community leaders and supporters.

Leading the prayers, the Imam Gambari of Ilorin, Shaykh AbdulAzeez Suleiman, offered supplications for wisdom and success for the aspirant.

Similarly, in the Adangba area, residents gathered at the Adangba Mosque for another prayer session organised by the Atotileto Descendant Families.

The Ajanasi Agba of Ilorin, Fadilat Sheikh Mujitaba Yusuf, led prayers alongside other clerics, praying for guidance and a successful political journey for Seriki.

Organisers of both gatherings described the events as expressions of unity and a shared interest in the future of Kwara State.