Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi and political scientist Prof Hassan Salihu of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), yesterday, agreed that the emergence of Hon Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the 2027 governorship candidate portrays fairness, equity and inclusive development in the state.

They said this in Ilorin at a stakeholders’ engagement by ‘One Kwara Project’ from Kwara North.

Fagbemi declared: “Kwara does not belong to one senatorial district alone.”

He recalled that: Kwara Central has had a shot at the seat for about two decades, Kwara South, for eight years. It is fair, equitable, and just to allow the power to rotate to the North. No one district area can continue to have power.”

Fagbemi, represented by the party’s scribe, Alhaji Mohammed Ishowo, exuded confidence on the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.

He said: “Come 2027, our governorship candidate and other candidates will emerge victorious at the polls. It behoves the party to rotate the power to the North.

The APC chair urged all party supporters and members to go back to the 193 wards across the state and preach the gospel of the good performance of Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq for the electoral victory of the party.

Salihu, who poke of “Power shift: Panacea for inclusive development in Kwara state,” advised Kwara to institutionalise power rotation like Niger state, to give all the districts sense of belonging.

“Rotating power among the three senatorial districts must, however, be matched with opportunities in governance. To ensure development, power rotation is a reality,” professor of political science added.

He counselled Rt Hon Salihu to embark on aggressive reconciliation before, during, and after his emergence as the state governor.

“Carry all stakeholders along with aggressive consultation. You will face enormous responsibility. Your watchword, therefore, should be inclusion. Readiness to do the needful. To start right now,” he added.

He listed some roadblocks to inclusive development as unfair development, lopsided appointments, corruption, prohibitive electoral fees, and violence and thuggery.