2027: Senator Oloriegbe Joins APC Kwara Governorship Race Amid Alleged Tinubu–AbdulRazaq Rift
2027: Senator Oloriegbe Joins APC Kwara Governorship Race Amid Alleged Tinubu–AbdulRazaq Rift
Former Senator representing Kwara Central, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), entering an already complex race shaped by zoning debates and alleged high-level political tensions.
TimesNG reports that Oloriegbe’s declaration comes amid growing political speculation of a widening rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over their preferred successors. While the Presidency is widely believed to favour a candidate from the Yoruba-speaking Kwara South Senatorial District, the governor’s camp is reportedly backing a contender from the non-Yoruba-speaking Kwara North.
Though unconfirmed, the alleged divergence has intensified political calculations within the APC, as stakeholders weigh zoning considerations, influence from Abuja, and local party dynamics ahead of the primaries.
Addressing party leaders and supporters in Ilorin on Thursday, Oloriegbe positioned himself as a “tested” bridge-builder capable of uniting divergent interests and delivering disciplined governance.
“Foundation is not completion. After stability must come strength, and after strength must come full delivery,” he said. “Kwara’s next phase demands prepared hands, not trial and error.”
The race for the APC governorship ticket is already gaining momentum across the three senatorial districts.
In Kwara North, which has yet to produce a governor since 1999, party elders are intensifying calls for power shift to the zone. Leading aspirants from the district include Senator Sadiq Umar and the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, who is widely seen as Governor AbdulRazaq’s preferred candidate.
Kwara South, which held the governorship between 2003 and 2011, has also produced strong contenders. Among them are Senator Lola Ashiru and former APC state chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB), who is reportedly favoured by the Presidency. Other aspirants from the zone include Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki and Alhaji Azeez Salako, Global President of the Offa Descendants Union.
Kwara Central, Oloriegbe’s base, features prominent political heavyweights such as Senator Saliu Mustapha, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, and Professor Abubakar Suleiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
TimesNG notes that aside from sitting lawmakers, some aspirants holding federal appointments are yet to resign their positions as required by law for governorship contests, fuelling speculation about their level of commitment to the race.
Oloriegbe, who defeated former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the 2019 senatorial election, said his ambition is driven by a desire to consolidate the gains of the current administration while moving the state towards measurable development outcomes.
He unveiled a five-point agenda centred on security, economic productivity, healthcare, social equity, and accountable governance, drawing from his background as a medical doctor and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.
Amid ongoing speculation about preferred candidates, he urged APC stakeholders to prioritise competence over factional loyalty.
“The party must present not just a familiar face, but a fit leader — not just a man with ambition, but a man with capacity,” he said.
A former Majority Leader in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Oloriegbe is widely regarded for his technocratic approach to governance and policy.
His declaration signals the early build-up to what is expected to be a keenly contested primary and general election, as political alignments between Abuja and Ilorin continue to evolve.
By TimesNG