When it’s not your turn, it’s not your turn’ — Hakeem Lawal declares loyalty to Kwara APC

‘…urges return of aggrieved members, says APC remains his political home

Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal, son of former Kwara State Governor Muhammad Alabi Lawal and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, has declared his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging aggrieved members to return to the party.

Lawal spoke on Saturday in Ilorin during an event where he formally declared support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate, Yakubu Salihu Danladi.

He said the APC remained his political home, adding that some politicians who had left the party should consider returning and work together for its success in the 2027 elections.

“Some of them left. Where they left for, we should remind ourselves. When it is not your turn yet, it is not your turn,” Lawal said.

He added that political opportunities would come to everyone at the appropriate time, urging party members to remain patient and united.

“What we have left, we have left, we are not going back again. Because if they returned us back, it will affect all of us. Our party is APC, APC is our house,” he said.

Lawal, who contested the 2023 governorship election on the SDP platform, said his experience outside the APC had enabled him and others to appreciate the differences between political platforms.

“Some people have tasted both and they can see the difference. Let all of us come back to the party and work for victory. It is by turn, we will all benefit,” he said.

Explaining his silence on his political position in recent months, Lawal said he had deliberately stayed away from public political declarations despite questions over his allegiance.

“I’ve been silent all the while and people have been asking where I belong, but I belong to APC. For the opposition let them remain in opposition for 40 years; for us, we will keep winning,” he said.

He also recognised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the national leader of the APC and Governor AbdulRazaq as the party’s leader in Kwara State.