GDJ: Kwara 2027: Ali Ahmad pledges people-centered, purpose-driven leadership

…urges FG adoption of modern surveillance to stem insecurity

Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Professor Ali Ahmad, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), THE PRIME NEWS reports.

Prof Ahmad made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the monthly interface organised by the Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

During the interactive session, the former lawmaker revealed that he has begun consultations and strategic engagements within the PDP as part of early preparations for the 2027 race.

He explained that his decision to join the contest is motivated by what he described as a desire to offer purposeful leadership and reposition Kwara State for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

THE PRIME NEWS also reports that the former Speaker also dismissed rumours suggesting he was considering a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining that he remains a loyal and committed member of the PDP.

Beyond politics, Ahmad expressed serious concern over the rising insecurity in parts of the state, calling for urgent federal intervention to curb the growing wave of attacks on rural communities.

His remarks followed a deadly assault on Woro community, which he described as a disturbing indication of escalating violence.

He warned that Kwara is witnessing a worrying shift in the scale and coordination of criminal operations, noting that what once appeared to be isolated security breaches is rapidly evolving into organised and audacious attacks.

According to him, the assailants reportedly overran security formations, including military posts, before attacking the community an incident he said exposes weaknesses in surveillance systems and rapid response mechanisms, particularly in rural areas.

Former lawmaker argued that Nigeria’s security framework must transition from conventional approaches to intelligence-driven and technology-based strategies. He advocated the deployment of advanced surveillance tools such as thermal imaging devices and modern reconnaissance equipment to enhance early detection and prevent attacks before they occur.

He further stressed that without significant improvements in intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency coordination, security forces may continue to struggle against increasingly sophisticated threats.

Ex-Speaker urged the Federal Government to prioritise investments in digital monitoring systems and real-time intelligence sharing across states.

While acknowledging the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in providing relief materials to victims, he maintained that humanitarian assistance after attacks cannot replace proactive and preventive security measures. According to him, prevention must become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s security response.