The 52-Youth Coalition, a political interest group in Kwara State, has criticized Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the nomination of two serving members of the State House of Assembly as the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.
The ruling party recently confirmed the Speaker of the House, Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, as its governorship candidate, with Hon. David Seun Ogunniyi Adato, the lawmaker representing Ojomu/Balogun State Constituency, as his running mate.
Reacting to the development, the coalition described the joint ticket as an unprecedented “democratic aberration” in Nigeria’s political history, arguing that no major political party in the country has ever fielded two serving state lawmakers from the same Assembly on a single governorship ticket.
In a statement issued on Sunday and obtained by 9japarrot media, the spokesperson for the coalition stated that while serving Speakers and lawmakers have individually transitioned into executive positions across various states, pairing two active members of the same legislative chamber for the executive top seats sets a bad precedent.
“Since the return to democracy in 1999, we have seen serving Speakers become governors such as Sheriff Oborevwori in Delta State, Ahmadu Fintiri in Adamawa, and Aminu Tambuwal, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives before becoming Sokoto Governor,” the statement read.
“We have also seen serving Assembly members selected as deputy governors. However, what has never happened anywhere in the federation is a party nominating two serving colleagues who sit together in the same chamber to run as Governor and Deputy simultaneously.” the group said.
The coalition further criticized the performance of the current 9th Assembly, describing it as docile and overly reliant on executive direction. It alleged that under the leadership of Danladi and Ogunniyi, the House failed to sponsor landmark private member bills aimed at addressing youth unemployment, healthcare reform, or economic empowerment in key towns such as Ilorin, Offa, Patigi, and Kaiama.
The group specifically targeted Ogunniyi, alleging that despite heading key house committees on power and health, he has failed to facilitate impactful development projects worth ₦10 million in his Ojomu/Balogun constituency in Offa Local Government Area.
Contrasting the APC candidates with the opposition, the coalition praised the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Kale Kawu, describing him as a private-sector technocrat who has facilitated several community development projects, including schools, water schemes, and health interventions, from personal resources.
The group also lauded his running mate, Rev. Fawenu, as a respected grassroots mobilizer.
The coalition alleged that the nomination of the two lawmakers was a deliberate attempt by the outgoing administration to ensure continuity and avoid scrutiny over past executive approvals, including state debt profiles, urban infrastructure spending, and major municipal contracts.
“By installing the Speaker who approved unchecked budgets as Governor and a member who raised no critical questions as Deputy, the administration is seeking a third term by proxy,” the statement claimed.
“Kwarans are wiser and will reject an attempt to turn statecraft into an extension of legislative eye-service.” They added.
As of press time, representatives of the Kwara APC and the state government had not issued an official response to the coalition’s assertions.
However, party leaders had earlier urged unity among members following the conclusion of the state primaries, expressing confidence that the Danladi-led ticket will secure victory at the 2027 polls.
