The unfolding contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has placed Dr. Bukola Saraki at a critical crossroads. However, this moment extends beyond individual ambitions, reflecting a broader public sentiment: Kwara State is ready for a change in leadership. Voters are increasingly prioritizing credibility, empathy, and personal connection over party loyalty or elite endorsements.
A candidate who embodies these qualities could galvanize support and reshape the state’s political landscape.
Recent public opinion suggests that the opposition will have a warm reception in 2027, provided they field a candidate with genuine grassroots appeal. The current administration’s performance has left many Kwarans feeling disconnected from the decision-making process.
As a result, there’s a growing appetite for a leader who understands the struggles of everyday citizens and can deliver tangible results. The opposition’s choice of candidate will be crucial in determining whether they can capitalize on this sentiment.
In this context, the PDP’s selection process is being closely watched. Will they opt for a candidate with broad grassroots legitimacy, or will they prioritize loyalty and risk alienating voters? The stakes are high, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the party and the state. One thing is clear: Kwara State voters are no longer swayed by empty promises or imposed candidates. They’re looking for a leader who embodies their hopes and aspirations, and they’re willing to support a candidate who delivers on this promise.
The opposition would do well to take note.
As Kwara State approaches this pivotal moment, one thing is certain: the people will be the ultimate decision-makers. Their voices, their concerns, and their aspirations will shape the future of the state. It’s time for leaders to listen. The race is shaping into a contest between Prof. Ali Ahmed, a seasoned legislator and constitutional lawyer, and Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu, a technocrat with broad social, religious, and political appeal.
Ali Ahmed represents experience, institutional memory, and long-standing public service, with solid credentials and years of legislative governance. Kawu, on the other hand, symbolizes service delivery, accessibility, and grassroots legitimacy, earning acceptance among elites and ordinary citizens alike. In an era of independent-minded voters, this distinction is crucial. However, Kawu’s critics question his loyalty, citing his limited ties to Saraki’s network. This argument is weak, given Nigeria’s political history of shifting allegiances. Examples include Siminalayi Fubara vs. Nyesom Wike, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s leadership crises, showing proximity doesn’t guarantee fidelity. Even Saraki’s former allies have drifted away when interests diverged.
True loyalty in politics is not measured by years of association or emotional attachment. It is tested only when power is entrusted and responsibility is exercised. The record of Abdulfatah Ahmed in Kwara and Babatunde Fashola in Lagos illustrates that allegiance is best assessed in office, not in anticipation. If a leader proves unreliable after assuming authority, political and institutional mechanisms exist to manage such challenges. What cannot easily be remedied is an avoidable electoral defeat arising from poor candidate selection.
In contemporary Nigerian politics, popularity and acceptability are decisive assets. Voters respond more to credibility, empathy, and personal connection than to endorsements from political godfathers. A candidate lacking broad public support will struggle at the polls, regardless of elite backing.
Thus, Saraki’s decision has far-reaching implications. Supporting a candidate with grassroots legitimacy could rebuild trust, strengthen party cohesion, and revive the PDP’s electoral prospects. Imposing a candidate based on loyalty could deepen divisions, encourage defections, and push his base towards irrelevance.
This is a moment for Saraki to demonstrate courage, restraint, and foresight.
The choice is between political renewal and retreat. Equally dangerous is the temptation to rely on informal agreements and elite consensus. Political promises made behind closed doors are often fragile and easily broken once power dynamics shift. Many actors who appear loyal in public operate differently in private. History has shown repeatedly that such alliances are transactional and short-lived. Betting the future of a political structure on them is a gamble that rarely pays off.
Saraki’s challenge is further complicated by persistent public perceptions that he exercises excessive control over party processes and candidate selection. Critics often accuse him of subordinating collective interest to personal calculations. These sentiments are echoed in works such as “The Loyalist” by Bolaji Abdullahi, which questions the depth of internal democracy within his political circle. Whether one agrees with such assessments or not, they have shaped public opinion. This moment therefore presents Saraki with a rare opportunity to redefine his image as a leader willing to subordinate personal comfort to collective progress.
The implications of his decision are far-reaching. If he aligns with the popular mood and supports a candidate with broad grassroots legitimacy, he stands to rebuild trust, strengthen party cohesion and revive the PDP’s electoral prospects in Kwara. He would be seen as a statesman who understands the demands of changing political realities. If, however, he succumbs to narrow interests and imposes a candidate based primarily on loyalty calculations, he risks deepening internal divisions, encouraging defections and pushing his political base towards irrelevance. In modern politics, kingmakers who consistently lose elections soon lose their authority.
At the heart of this dilemma lies a choice between reality and illusion. Reality demands acknowledgement of public sentiment, acceptance of democratic competition and prioritisation of victory. Illusion thrives on private assurances, assumed loyalty and the belief that structures alone can deliver votes. Only the former guarantees political survival. At this stage, success must come before speculation. Victory is the foundation upon which all other political considerations rest. Loyalty can be evaluated and managed in power; it cannot compensate for defeat.
Ultimately, this decision transcends individual ambitions. It concerns the future of the PDP in Kwara, the durability of Saraki’s influence and the credibility of his leadership. By standing with the genuine choice of the people, he can secure relevance and respect. By yielding to selfish manipulation, he risks consigning his political legacy to gradual decline. This is a moment that demands courage, restraint and foresight. It is a choice between political renewal and political retreat, and its consequences will reverberate far beyond the next election.
Dr. M.S. Ayinde Mosadi’
bolayo18@gmail.com