Op-Ed | Reconciliation charade: Why Gov AbdulRazaq cannot be both judge and litigant in Kwara APC crisis
By Adeshola Kamal
The crisis within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reached a defining moment. After the party’s 2026 primaries, several governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly aspirants expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome. A coalition of aggrieved stakeholders, now known as the G15, has since challenged the party’s leadership in the state and called for a return to the ideals of the 2019 Otoge movement.
In response, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved a five-member reconciliation committee chaired by retired Colonel AbdulWahab Ademola Lawal to engage aggrieved members and restore party unity.
Reconciliation is necessary, but it cannot succeed without trust. The issue is not simply that a committee has been formed, but whether the process is independent, neutral and credible enough to inspire confidence.
At the heart of the matter is the principle of natural justice: nemo judex in causa sua—no one should be a judge in his own cause.
The G15’s grievances are directed largely at the leadership style of the Kwara APC under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, including allegations of exclusion, weak consultation, disregard for internal democracy and marginalisation of stakeholders. Whether one agrees with these claims or not, the governor is a central figure in the dispute.
This raises a difficult question: can a reconciliation process initiated, constituted and supervised by one of the principal actors reasonably command the confidence of those whose complaints are directed against that same actor? Natural justice suggests otherwise. Justice must not only be done; it must also be seen to be done.
A reconciliation process perceived to lack independence is unlikely to produce lasting peace, regardless of the sincerity of those involved.
Questions have also been raised about the committee’s composition, particularly the inclusion of Engr. Musa Yeketi, a former Commissioner for Education under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and later a member of the APC.
No one disputes his right to belong to any political party or serve where appointed. However, his inclusion on a committee expected to reconcile original Otoge stakeholders inevitably raises concerns among those who consider themselves foundational actors in that struggle.
For many within the G15, the issue is symbolic as much as political. They argue that those who were not part of the sacrifices that birthed the movement should not become arbiters in disputes involving those who built it. Whether that perception is fair or not, it cannot simply be dismissed. In politics, perception often determines legitimacy.
The committee chairman, retired Colonel AbdulWahab Lawal, has described the crisis as a family disagreement and expressed confidence that it can be resolved because all parties remain within the APC. That optimism is commendable, but reconciliation requires more than meetings and handshakes.
Sustainable reconciliation requires confidence in the process, in the mediators and in the assurance that every grievance will receive a fair hearing.
The G15’s demands go beyond individual ambitions. They include internal democracy, transparent party administration, protection of dissent, broader consultation and reconciliation founded on justice and fairness.
These are institutional concerns that cannot be resolved through symbolism alone.
Successful political reconciliation is usually facilitated by individuals or institutions perceived to be independent of the principal contestants. Where the mediator is seen as aligned with one side, even sincere efforts may struggle to gain credibility.
This is why many stakeholders believe the situation requires intervention by respected national party leaders or mutually acceptable elders whose neutrality is less likely to be questioned.
If reconciliation is to succeed, it must be anchored on impartiality, mutual respect and genuine dialogue. A process perceived as predetermined or lacking independence is unlikely to restore confidence among aggrieved stakeholders.
Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq therefore faces an important leadership choice: broaden the reconciliation process through a mechanism trusted by all tendencies within the party, or continue with one many already view with scepticism.
Ultimately, reconciliation cannot be imposed; it must be accepted. And acceptance begins with trust.
The principle remains unchanged: nemo judex in causa sua—no one should be a judge in his own cause.
Adeshola Kamal is a political commentator and a keen participant in Kwara State politics.
