AbdulRazaq denies endorsing Kwara Speaker as 2027 successor

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has denied reports claiming that he submitted the name of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, to President Bola Tinubu as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The denial follows a report circulating on social media on Tuesday, which alleged that the governor had privately forwarded Danladi’s name to the president in a move to influence the succession process in the state.

Reacting to the claim, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Bashir Adigun, described the report as false, malicious, and a calculated attempt to blackmail the governor.

“Reports that the name of any particular aspirant has been submitted to the President as the candidate for Kwara State Governor are false, malicious, and designed to blackmail Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“We reject the blackmail outright. It is false to suggest that the governor has submitted the name of any aspirant. Members and leaders of our party should ignore it,” he said.

Adigun urged members of the All Progressives Congress and other stakeholders in the state to disregard the report, insisting that all aspirants remain free to pursue their ambitions within the party.

“We urge party members and stakeholders to ignore the claims. All aspirants are encouraged to sell their legitimate aspirations to all relevant stakeholders.

“The time, energy, and resources being spent to blackmail others can do something better,” he said.

The controversial report had claimed that AbdulRazaq privately put forward Danladi as his preferred successor, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the matter and describing the move as part of an early, behind-the-scenes effort to shape the state’s next governorship race.

It further alleged that the governor conveyed this position to President Tinubu, arguing that power should rotate to Kwara North Senatorial District, which has not produced a governor since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

“The governor recently conveyed his position to President Bola Tinubu, arguing that power should rotate to Kwara North, a district that has not produced a governor since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999,” the report stated.

According to the same account, the development was seen by insiders as strategic, positioning Danladi among top contenders in what is expected to be a keenly contested race, alongside figures such as Sadiq Umar.

“He went to the president with the name of the speaker as his preferred successor and the gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“But some aspirants already know, and they are working their own channels in Abuja. The governor may have influence, but he may not have the final say,” a senior party figure was quoted as saying.

The report also suggested that no final decision had been taken by the president, noting that he was weighing competing interests and recommendations from within political circles.

“People familiar with the president’s thinking say no decision has been made. Instead, Tinubu is weighing competing interests and recommendations from within his political circle and beyond,” it added.

It further claimed that the alleged development had begun to generate tension within the ruling party in the state, as some aspirants questioned the transparency of the process while continuing their campaigns.

“A prominent figure from Kwara North met the president, who mentioned that the governor had submitted a name.

“That message got back to Kwara, and that is how we first became aware. Since then, there has been quiet preparation for different outcomes,” another source was quoted as saying.

Some party insiders, according to the report, also raised concerns about fairness.

“If a decision has already been tilted in a particular direction, why allow everyone else to keep spending and mobilising?” another insider said. “It raises questions. But the race is still open.”

The account further pointed to what it described as a subtle shift in political alignments among aspirants.

“If you look closely, you will notice a shift. In the past, aspirants made a point of aligning publicly with the governor, even putting him on their campaign banners. But look at what happened in Abuja during the convention. Very few of them acknowledged him, and even their supporters were not chanting his name,” a source said.

“That tells you something. Many of the aspirants already know what is going on, and they are now exploring other ways to reach the president in Abuja. At this point, they are operating independently. The governor’s position no longer carries the same weight for them,” the source added.

However, the Kwara State Government has dismissed the entire narrative, maintaining that no endorsement has been made.

AbdulRazaq had earlier, in March, distanced himself from speculations about backing any candidate, insisting that the party would adopt an open and merit-based process.

“For those who will contest and whoever eventually emerges, it is not about anyone anointing anybody,” the governor said.

“We are not here to build a dynasty; we are here to build a legacy. Whoever succeeds me will build on this foundation and strive to do better,” he added.

He emphasised that the race would be competitive, even among members of the State House of Assembly.

“When I speak of healthy competition, I mean it will be tough. Even from within our State House of Assembly, we have six governorship aspirants altogether. Moving forward, it will indeed be a healthy contest,” he said.

The governor also urged unity within the party before and after the primaries.

“It will be healthy competition among those who aspire to succeed, and I urge whoever emerges victorious to carry along those who do not succeed in order to foster unity as one family,” he said.