Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin West Local Government Area have reacted to discussions surrounding the PDP’s Kwara Central Senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the party leadership to prioritize electoral victory over zoning considerations.
The stakeholders maintained that the PDP must adopt a strategic approach by selecting its senatorial candidate from Ilorin West, arguing that elections are won through careful planning, political calculations, and grassroots strength rather than sentiments.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Monday in response to a publication titled “Ilorin South PDP Rejects Saraki’s Alleged Consensus Senatorial Candidate,” which was reportedly circulated by a group claiming to represent stakeholders from Ilorin South Local Government. We challenge them to name the so called stakeholders and where the meeting actually took place.
Reacting to the development, the Ilorin West PDP stakeholders described the statement as lacking authenticity and potentially orchestrated by political opponents seeking to create disunity within the party.
According to the group, the PDP remains the party to beat in the 2027 elections, but cautioned that victory can only be achieved through strategic decision-making.
“Elections are not won based on primordial sentiments but by permutations and calculated strategies. Any keen observer of Kwara politics will acknowledge the demographic and political strength of Ilorin West,” the statement said.
The stakeholders pointed to electoral data from the 2023 general elections, noting that Ilorin West recorded the highest number of registered and accredited voters in Kwara Central.
According to the figures cited, Ilorin West had 273,635 registered voters, with 85,736 accredited voters during the elections, while Ilorin South recorded 161,045 registered voters and 36,741 accredited voters.
They argued that while every local government remains important to the PDP’s success, the party cannot afford to overlook areas with proven electoral advantages, especially as it prepares to challenge the ruling APC in the senatorial contest.
“We are going into the Kwara Central Senatorial election to challenge a sitting governor and a ruling party. Rather than fighting over who gets what, we must form a united front and put our best foot forward,” the statement added.
The stakeholders further referenced the 2023 Kwara Central Senatorial election results, where the APC secured 109,823 votes against the PDP’s 69,202 votes, stressing that the opposition party must make difficult but strategic decisions if it hopes to overturn the deficit in 2027.
They also emphasized the importance of securing key legislative seats ahead of the governorship election.
“PDP must win at least two Senate seats out of three and four House of Representatives seats out of six to position itself strongly for the gubernatorial election,” they stated.
While presenting their arguments, the stakeholders dismissed suggestions of internal division within the party, insisting that the controversial statement from Ilorin South bore the hallmark of political mischief aimed at causing disaffection among party members.
“No loyal PDP member will openly work against the decision of the party leadership. Only those afraid of the growing popularity of the PDP among the people would attempt to sow discord within our ranks,” the statement read.
Reaffirming their confidence in the party’s leadership, the stakeholders declared that any attempt to divide the PDP would fail, describing the party as united and focused on reclaiming power in 2027.
“The plan is dead on arrival. PDP remains an indivisible entity, and we are more united than ever. We urge party members to disregard the schemes of detractors. Our focus is on victory, and victory shall be ours in 2027,” the statement concluded.
Signed:
1. Solihu Funso Abdulrasaq (Abosioyoyan)
2. Alh. Baba Akota
3. Bilewu Salihu
4. Olanrongbe Imam