By Otunba (Dr) Toba Oloyede
In the vibrant political landscape of Kwara State, few names inspire as much confidence and measured leadership as that of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, popularly known and loved as “Governor AA.” As supporters, party faithful, and citizens await the official release of results from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, a wave of anxiety and impatience has understandably swept through some quarters. This piece is a gentle but firm appeal to reason: there is no cause for alarm. The process is ongoing, it is lawful, and it is in the most capable of hands.
Let us take a breath. Let us trust the process. And most importantly, let us trust Governor AA.
Political primaries are not a simple affair. They are the foundational step through which a democratic party selects its best candidates, those who will carry the flag, represent the people, and contest for offices at various levels of government. The APC, as Nigeria’s leading ruling party, operates within a framework of internal democracy guided by its constitution and, crucially, by the guidelines set out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Every party member, supporter, and citizen must understand this clearly: the delay in releasing primaries results is not a sign of crisis. It is a sign of diligence.
I am particularly pleased to inform our great party members and the people of Kwara State that every appeal, every concern, and every representation made by stakeholders and aspirants throughout this primaries process is being carefully factored into the decisions being taken. The leadership is not acting in isolation. It is listening, weighing, and deliberating in a manner that ensures no outcome will be vulnerable to successful legal challenge. The utmost care is being taken so that whatever emerges from this process is legally watertight and will not cost the party any embarrassment before any court of competent jurisdiction. This is not delay for delay’s sake. This is thoroughness in defence of our collective interest.
It is important for every party member to understand that INEC, in its regulatory capacity, provides a specific window and timeline within which political parties must conduct their primaries and submit results. The APC is operating fully within this legal and regulatory timeframe. Nothing has been violated. Nothing is amiss. The wheels of democracy are turning, steadily, deliberately, and lawfully.
To appreciate why Kwarans should trust the process under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s watch, one only needs to look at his track record since assuming office. Governor AA came into power on the back of a historic political revolution, the “O To Ge” movement that swept away decades of political godfatherism in Kwara State. Since then, he has demonstrated time and again that his governance style is defined by transparency, due process, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people. Under his administration, Kwara has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development with roads, bridges, and public facilities being constructed and rehabilitated across all three senatorial districts. His investment in education has led to the renovation of public schools and the restoration of dignity to the state’s educational institutions. Healthcare improvements have expanded access to medical care for the most vulnerable populations, while economic empowerment initiatives have put thousands of Kwarans to work and lifted families out of poverty. This is not the profile of a leader who would compromise or manipulate the party’s primaries for selfish gain. This is a leader whose every action has been guided by the best interests of the people he serves.
The release of primaries results requires a careful and methodical process. Collation of results from multiple wards, local government areas, and senatorial districts must be done accurately and without error. Verification and cross-checking ensure that every vote cast by every delegate is properly accounted for. Internal party review ensures that the process conforms to the APC’s own guidelines and that no procedural lapses are overlooked. Compliance with INEC requirements ensures that when results are submitted, they meet the legal standards required for candidate validation. Rushing any of these steps would not serve the party. It would not serve the candidates. And it would certainly not serve the people of Kwara State. Governor AA understands this. His team understands this. And we, as loyal party members, must understand this too.
To every APC member in Kwara State, from the grassroots ward executives to the most senior party leaders, this is a moment that calls for unity and patience. The primaries process is the internal heartbeat of our democracy. How we conduct ourselves during this period will define the strength and integrity of our party going forward. Do not allow impatience to become the enemy of progress. Do not allow anxiety to be weaponised against the very party and governor that have worked tirelessly for your welfare.
I must speak plainly and with all the love I have for this great party: we cannot afford to present a divided front before our opponents. No grievance, however genuine, should be taken to the streets or to the media in a manner that exposes our internal workings to the opposition. Every political party has its moments of internal tension. What distinguishes a mature and disciplined party is its ability to resolve those tensions within and emerge united before the electorate. Our opponents are watching. They are waiting for any crack, any sign of discord, any reason to proclaim that the APC in Kwara is broken. We must not give them that satisfaction. The opposition will not manage our affairs with more competence or more care for the people. They are simply opportunists waiting for us to stumble. Let us not stumble.
I therefore urge our loyal and committed party members in the strongest possible terms: do not sell out this party cheaply. Do not allow personal disappointment or temporary frustration to drive you into the hands of those who have never had the best interests of Kwara State at heart. The APC is bigger than any individual ambition. The progress we have made under Governor AA is bigger than any single primaries outcome. We have come too far together to allow a moment of impatience to undo years of collective sacrifice and achievement. Those who attempt to use this period of uncertainty to undermine the party from within or to flirt with the opposition are not serving their constituents. They are serving themselves, and history will judge them accordingly.
While we await the conclusion of the primaries process, there is something urgent and equally important that every patriotic Kwaran and APC supporter must attend to without delay. The ongoing voters’ registration exercise by INEC presents a golden and time-bound opportunity for us to strengthen our numerical advantage at the polls. I am calling on every APC member, every supporter, every family and community that has benefited from the transformative governance of Governor AA to go out immediately and register to vote if you have not already done so. Mobilise your neighbours, your family members, your colleagues and your friends. A vote not registered is a vote lost. The general election will ultimately be decided by the number of eligible voters who show up at the polls, and we cannot win convincingly if our people are not on the voters’ register.
This is our moment to consolidate. Every new voter registered for the APC is a brick in the wall of victory we are building for the general election. The opposition understands the power of voter registration, which is why they are quietly working in the background to register their own supporters. We must match their energy and surpass it. Ward coordinators, local government chairmen, and party executives at every level must treat this voters’ registration drive as a top priority campaign activity. The time to act is now, not after the primaries results are announced, not after the campaigns begin. Now.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has earned our trust not through promises alone, but through years of consistent, transparent, and people-focused governance. He has not failed Kwara before, and he will not fail the party now. The delay in releasing primaries results is a procedural necessity, not a political conspiracy. The APC is operating within the law. INEC’s guidelines are being honoured. Every appeal and representation is being considered. And at the heart of it all is a governor who has made it his mission to put the interests of the people first, always.
I urge our teeming constituents to collect their PVC across our local governments area, it’s their only access to vote, our party at the grassroots levels should also continue to mobilize our people and sensitize them on the need to have their Permanent Voters Card readily available as we prepare ahead for the 2027 Elections.
So to every anxious supporter, every restless party member, every concerned Kwaran: be patient. Be calm. Be confident. Stay united. Register to vote. And do not give our opponents the gift of our disunity. The results will come. They will be credible. They will be legally sound. And when they do, they will reflect the true voice of our party, a voice that Governor AA has always respected and will continue to protect. The process is working. The people are being prioritised. Every concern is being heard. Kwara is in good hands, and the APC in Kwara State is on the march to victory.