— Accuses Gov AbdulRazaq, Mustapha of Plan to Swap Offices in 2027
A socio-political group, Kwara Vanguard for Democracy (KVD) has warned the people of the five local government areas in the Kwara North Senatorial District to be wary of a post-2023 grand plan already put in place by incumbent Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to use and dump them after securing his second term.
In a statement sigbed by the State Co-ordinator, Abdullahi Adamu, the group noted that Abdulrahman and a small clique in the APC have decided that in 2027, the governorship ticket should be given to Mallam Saliu Mustapha, the APC senatorial candidate in the February 11, 2023 polls, in exchange for the senatorial seat which will now move over to the Governor.
The Abdulrahman Caucus, it is believed, has held several strategic meetings to perfect the plan while also agreeing that in the current electioneering campaigns, the members should continue to appeal to the people of Kwara North to wait till 2027 for the Governorship position.
The KVD, therefore, warned the people of Kwara North to “beware of such empty promise, a Greek gift, which is being offered by a selfish, undemocratic and dubious power group always scheming to use the state resources to oppress the people”.
The KVD noted that in the close circle of Governor Abdulrahman and Mallam Mustapha, the plan is known as the ‘Swap Deal’ indicating the predetermined plots by the Governor and the APC Senatorial candidate in Kwara Central to swap offices in 2027.
The statement by KVD further read that: “The people of Kwara North need to be alerted about the secret political intrigue and therefore refuse to sacrifice this opportunity already presented to them to produce the next Governor of Kwara State for any ulterior machination by selfish politicians.
“May we draw your attention to the fact that the incumbent Governor, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq hopes to go to the Senate after his second tenure as Governor and already has a pact with the APC Kwara Central Senatorial candidate, Saliu Mustapha to take the Governorship ticket in 2027.
“Assuring the people of Kwara North that he will ensure the APC Governorship ticket is zoned to them after his second term as Governor, is not only deceitful, but unfair and a desperate ploy to curry the people’s support for his re-election bid.
“This is highly self-centered, inconsiderate, and dubious. It is a Greek gift and must be resisted. The plot is the reason why Mustapha is spending money anyhow for his campaigns in the Central district as the governor has charged him to deliver the zone in the coming polls as part of fulfilling his own part of the deal”.
The group also revealed that the move to make Mustapha succeed Abdulrazaq, was in fulfilment of a pact by the APC National body, devised to compensate contestants for the office of national chairman in 2021 with the governorship ticket in their respective states.
According to the group, those who come from states like Kwara where the sitting Governor is still vying for a second term were offered the Senate ticket in 2023 with a promise to take over from the incumbent governor in 2027.
The Kwara Vanguard for Democracy, lamented the continued plot to marginalize the people of Kwara North and cautioned against such a move by any power caucus as the people will resist it.
“The state has not been fair all along to the northern Senatorial district. We all know this and it is only fair to support them in the 2023 Governorship election.
“Our membership cuts across the three Senatorial districts and different political affiliations, but we at KVD will always stand for justice, equity and fairness,” the statement read.
The Vanguard therefore charged the people of Kwara North to “stand united, jettison political sentiments and wholeheartedly support their son who is vying for the Governorship position in the March 11, 2023 polls in order to ensure fairness and attract development to their region”.