Publisher calls for zoning of governorship ticket to Kwara North

The Founder and Publisher of The Golden24/7 Online News, Mr. Sukari Mohammed Alhaji, has called for the governorship of Kwara State to be zoned to the Kwara North Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, citing equity, fairness, and the long-standing political marginalisation of the zone.

Mr. Alhaji, a native of Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area, is an active member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, spokesperson of the Patigi APC Support Groups, and a former member of the 2023 Gubernatorial Media Campaign Committee.

In his advocacy, he noted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Kwara North has never produced the Governor of Kwara State, despite its significant contributions to the state’s political stability, economic growth, and food security.

“Kwara North remains the agrarian backbone of Kwara State and the recognised food basket of the state,” he said. “The zone contributes significantly to internally generated revenue, with verified remittances documented by the Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENETSUD). Unfortunately, these resources are often deployed to fund major projects and local governments outside the zone.”

Politically, Mr. Alhaji emphasised that Kwara North has consistently supported governorship candidates from Kwara Central and Kwara South, demonstrating its commitment to unity and collective progress. He recalled that in 2019, when Kwara North was morally positioned for the governorship, the Coalition of Kwara North Groups (CKNG), under the leadership of Comrade Idris Musa Buko, strongly advocated for a power shift to the zone.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, presented Hon. Razaq Atunwa from Kwara Central as its gubernatorial candidate, while the then-sitting governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed from Kwara South, was still in office.

This development, he said, compelled the APC to also field a candidate from Kwara Central in order to remain competitive, a decision that eventually led to the party’s victory in the 2019 general elections.

According to Mr. Alhaji, the events of 2019 should not be repeated.

“In the spirit of equity, justice, and fairness, it is now time for Kwara North to produce the Governor of Kwara State in 2027, irrespective of party lines,” he stated.

He further stressed that Kwara North is blessed with credible, knowledgeable, and experienced leaders capable of effectively steering the affairs of the state.

Mr. Sukari Mohammed Alhaji therefore appealed to stakeholders and citizens of Kwara Central and Kwara South Senatorial Districts to support the emergence of a Kwara North indigene as governor in 2027, in the interest of fairness, unity, and the sustainable development of Kwara State.