The APC-ADC strategic blunder in Kwara State
Two major Nigerian political parties, the APC and ADC, have selected governorship candidates from the same local government area—Baruten—in Kwara North Senatorial District, risking internal vote fragmentation ahead of the 2027 election. This move undermines the long-awaited unity of Kwara North, which has historically been excluded from state power, and may weaken both candidates’ prospects by splitting support in the district’s largest electoral area.
The 2027 governorship election in Kwara State is facing a strategic setback as two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have chosen candidates from the same local government area in Kwara North. The APC nominated Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, while the ADC selected Hon. Zakari Mohammed, a former Commissioner and House of Representatives member, both from Baruten. This decision risks fracturing the unity of Kwara North, a district that has long demanded representation in the state’s highest office. For decades, the region—comprising Edu, Patigi, Moro, Kaiama, and Baruten—has felt marginalized, with political power rotating between Kwara Central and Kwara South. The move was expected to shift power northward, but selecting candidates from the same area undermines that solidarity. Baruten, the largest local government in Kwara State by landmass, holds significant electoral value and symbolic importance. Instead of rallying behind a single northern candidate, the district now faces internal division, with political structures, traditional leaders, and youth groups split between Danladi and Mohammed. This fragmentation could dilute support for both candidates, particularly in Baruten itself, where their rivalry may produce a split verdict. The situation reflects a broader political miscalculation, where symbolism overshadowed strategic arithmetic. Both candidates are experienced politicians with grassroots backing, but their shared origin threatens to cancel out the very unity Kwara North sought. Analysts warn this could weaken their chances in a tightly contested race, where consolidated regional support would have been critical.
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