Is There an Alternative to APC in Kwara?
POST-ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ GOVERNANCE IN KWARA STATE
By Bisi Kristien
Within the next six months, the processes leading to the nomination and eventual election of the next governor of Kwara State will commence in earnest. However, even before the political machinery is set fully in motion, a more fundamental issue demands attention: the expectations of Kwarans from the next administration in the context of the current government’s record.
Between 2017 and 2018, Kwara State was at one of its lowest points in recent history. Salary payment crises dominated public discourse, while the education and health sectors were virtually abandoned. Capital projects—such as road construction and other critical infrastructural developments—were almost nonexistent. In essence, the state was crippled by its inability to meet salary obligations, citing insufficient allocations, leaving little or no room to address other vital sectors.
The then-opposition party, now the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), built its campaign on a clear and compelling promise: to ensure the prompt payment of full salaries, revive the deteriorating education and health sectors, and subsequently invest in capital projects, including the construction of essential infrastructure such as roads and public facilities.
Nearly seven years after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq assumed office, having dismantled the long-entrenched political dynasty, these promises have been substantially delivered. With the recent approval of a salary increase scheduled to take effect this December, the earnings of a Grade Level 07 civil servant have effectively tripled—from ₦30,000 to ₦90,000. Beyond salaries, the education and health sectors have experienced visible revitalisation, while road construction and infrastructural development continue across the state at an unprecedented pace.
Despite these achievements, the opposition persists in claiming that the government has delivered little or nothing, frequently citing insecurity as its central argument. However, the realities on the ground sharply contradict this narrative. While insecurity remains a national challenge influenced by external and systemic factors, the limitations of gubernatorial powers in this area are well known. Nevertheless, the AbdulRazaq administration has demonstrated sustained commitment and strategic effort toward mitigating security threats within the state.
Any individual or group aspiring to succeed the current administration must therefore be prepared not merely to maintain this momentum, but ideally to exceed it. This naturally raises a critical question: who possesses the capacity, credibility, and vision to surpass the current pace of governance?
This brings the discussion to political parties and leadership alternatives. Is there truly an alternative to the APC in Kwara State?
While the question may appear complex, the answer is, in reality, straightforward. The opposition parties in Kwara—whether PDP or ADC—are largely populated by the same political actors who governed the state between 2003 and 2019. These actors continue to deny the tangible progress recorded under the present administration, while portraying the evident failures of the past as successes. A return to such leadership would only reverse the gains made and plunge the state back into stagnation.
This reality explains why, as 2027 approaches, there appears to be no viable alternative to the APC in Kwara State. Consequently, public attention remains firmly fixed on the APC to present a candidate capable of sustaining—and possibly advancing—the current trajectory of development, rather than dragging the state back into the hardships of the past.
End