There are growing indications that Kwara State may head into the next general elections with a deeply fractured ruling party, an opposition at sea and an increasingly disillusioned electorate with few credible alternatives. The odd combination paints a drab political landscape, MONSUR ARAMIDE reports.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set to close its portal for the submission and substitution of candidates for the 2027 general elections on Tuesday, many voters and aggrieved stakeholders in Kwara State may have lost hope of seeing their preferred candidates on the ballot.
The controversial outcomes of the candidate selection processes in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have left many voters in the State of Harmony dissatisfied.
Rather than inspiring confidence ahead of the elections, the primaries have raised fresh concerns about internal democracy, transparency and the extent to which party members influence the emergence of candidates.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum, Kwara State is witnessing renewed political manoeuvring among its major parties. While the ruling APC is grappling with internal disagreements over succession and party leadership, the opposition is equally striving to reposition itself after years out of power.
The outcome of these developments could significantly influence not only the electoral contest but also governance, public confidence and the quality of democratic competition in the state. Particularly striking, especially in the absence of substantial political mobilisation ahead of next year’s elections, is the growing possibility of widespread voter apathy among the state’s estimated 1.7 million registered voters.
Although the APC remains firmly in control of the state’s political machinery, recent events suggest that its internal cohesion is being tested. One of the aggrieved party elders, Abdulrasheed Akani, said that while the ruling party still enjoys the advantages of incumbency, unresolved disagreements among influential stakeholders could weaken its electoral strength if left unaddressed.
