Traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) converged on the Kwara State Banquet Hall in Ilorin on Wednesday for the “Dahiri Omo Ilorin 4 SYD” stakeholders’ engagement.
The gathering focused on political participation, unity, equity, and strategic alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Organized under the theme “One Ilorin, One Voice: Unity, Development and the Future of Kwara,” the event brought together prominent figures across the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara Central Senatorial District to rally support for the Kwara APC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD), and his running mate, Hon. Oluwaseun David Ogunniyi (Adato).
Delivering the welcome address, the convener and Coordinator-General of Dahiri Omo Ilorin for SYD, Hon. Abdulmajeed Abdulfatai Arikewuyo, stated that the initiative was founded on the belief that the strength of Ilorin lies in unity, consultation, and a collective voice.
Arikewuyo noted that ahead of the event, the group conducted consultations with traditional leaders across the Emirate, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, and various Baloguns. He emphasized that the emergence of SYD from Kwara North opens a new conversation about political balance and equity, clarifying that the movement aims to build bridges across Kwara Central, North, and South rather than foster division.
Speaking on behalf of the Kwara APC governorship candidate, the deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Oluwaseun David Ogunniyi, expressed strong confidence in the APC ticket, assuring stakeholders that the incoming administration would consolidate and expand the developmental legacies of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Representing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Senior Adviser and Counsellor Alhaji Saadu Salahu highlighted that Danladi’s candidacy aligns with the imperative for political equity and fair representation across the state’s senatorial districts.
Supporting the movement, the General Manager of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Dr. Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s achievements, noting that SYD’s track record as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly makes him well-equipped to drive the state’s growth trajectory forward.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Sulaiman Sai Kayi, urged the people of the Ilorin Emirate to remain united and back the SYD political project to preserve political stability and equitable governance.
The well-attended event concluded with a renewed commitment from political office holders, traditional heads, youth, and women representatives to mobilize grassroots support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
