Another chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Musliat Yetunde, has formally declared intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State, positioning herself as a compassionate leader ready to build on the achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Her declaration makes the number of female aspirants in APC two after Hon. Mahalia Aisha Ahman-Pategi on Sunday.

Speaking during her expression of interest, on Monday in Ilorin, Yetunde from Jebba area of Mooro local government, promised to take the State of Harmony to a new phase of inclusive growth and development.

According to the former civil servant, Kwara has all it takes to compete favourably with Lagos, Rivers and Kano “of right person take charge next year,” declaring herself as the right person for the job.

She described her aspiration as a call to service rooted in experience, empathy, and a strong commitment to sustaining the developmental strides recorded under the current administration.

She praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s impact across key sectors, noting that Kwara has witnessed a remarkable transformation in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth development, and women inclusion.

The governorship hopeful emphasized that her decision was further inspired by the APC’s commitment to women participation in politics, particularly the 35 percent affirmative action, which she said has been visibly implemented in Kwara through strategic appointments by the current administration.

Unveiling her policy direction, Yetunde outlined education as a top priority, pledging to expand access and improve funding across all levels to ensure no child is left behind. In healthcare, she promised to introduce a comprehensive health insurance scheme and strengthen primary healthcare delivery to reduce maternal and child mortality.

On security, she assured that if voted as governor, her administration would enhance collaboration among security agencies while promoting community-based intelligence gathering to tackle emerging threats. She also pledged to consolidate ongoing infrastructural development across all 16 local government areas of the state.

Highlighting youth and women empowerment as central to her agenda, Yetunde said: “we will create more opportunities through appointments and targeted programmes aimed at economic inclusion and capacity building.”

She further identified agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, promising increased investment across the value chain to boost food production and ensure sustainability. In the area of energy, she proposed the deployment of alternative power sources, particularly solar energy, to support industrial expansion.

Addressing water supply challenges, the APC aspirant committed to investing heavily in water infrastructure, including the provision of boreholes and improved distribution systems to ensure access to clean water across communities.

Yetunde, a Kwara Northerner, also made a strong case for regional balance, expressing confidence in her ability to fly the party’s flag and succeed the incumbent governor.

She called on party members, stakeholders, and particularly women across the state to rally behind her ambition, declaring that “this is women’s time” in Kwara politics.

Her declaration adds a new dimension to the emerging political permutations ahead of the 2027 elections, as stakeholders begin to position themselves for what is expected to be a keenly contested race.