Zoning plans will not be taken into consideration in the state’s 2027 governorship contest, according to Senator Lola Ashiru, the deputy Senate leader and senator from the Kwara South senatorial district in the National Assembly.
In an interview with newsmen in his rural Offa home, Ashiru made this claim.
The state’s three zones would compete for the governorship come 2027, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker.
“The state had never given zoning arrangements any thought when choosing its candidates for governor.In Kwara State, governorship is never zoned. Anybody who aspires to be governor must be willing to put in a lot of work and effort during their campaign to win over voters.
“Although it’s been a while, aside from the tenure of Kwara North native Governor Sha’aba Lafiagi, I sympathize with the Kwara North. Lafiagi was not appointed Kwara State’s governor based on zoning. He campaigned for it, worked hard, and fought for it. He made a deal for it. If you don’t come to me, you can’t tell me to vote for you. And I’ll ask you what you can do for my neighborhood.
I’ll ask any candidate for governor that approaches me what his proposals are for my community. This relates to politics, bargaining, and negotiating. There is never zoned positions. We have not zoned the governorship in any place.
“Ilorin was not zoned for the most recent election, which was won by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Nearly all politicians who were prepared to run for office did so. Every zone that was contested. And because AbdulRazaq is seen by the populace as someone who can bring about the benefits of democracy, they all came together and supported him in the election. Likewise, his second term was. The ticket was not zoned. Because he was better prepared than the others, he prevailed in the contest.
“Looking back, Lawal’s governorship was also challenged, and so on and so forth. In other words, we’re not in a zoning regime because, ultimately, we just want what’s best for everyone. To serve the people, we need people who are equipped and ready.
“Ideally, candidates would have to come to us, persuade us, negotiate with us, come to a table with us, and tell us what you have to offer the people of Kwara State and the people of Kwara South,” Ashiru said.
Ashiru added that Kwara South District should receive more attention, despite Governor Abdulrazaq’s good work in bringing democracy’s benefits to the entire state.
The deputy Senate Leader added that he would not get involved in that, despite saying he saw nothing improper or negative in any politician running for office in 2027 at this time.
