Kwara Gov Anoints Successor, Seriki

Amid the political wrangling in Kwara state over who succeeds Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, the state helmsman has endorsed one Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. In spite of the governor’s endorsement, Seriki will still have to slug it out with other candidates in the 2027 governorship election to become the occupier of Ilorin Government House.

While endorsing the aspirant, Governor Abdulrasaq said his action has not shut the door on other contestants who are aspiring to fly the APC flag in next year’s election, saying he only preferred Seriki because of his popularity which cut across the party and state generally.

Governor Abdulrasaq stressed that he decided to throw his weight behind the aspirant wide consultation among APC and other political leaders the state, describing Seriki as a “young and broadminded person.”

He said the aspirants has a “profound investment” among the people of the state, that he will perfrom well when he gets to office.

“ I am pleased to endorse Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki (MFR) as my preferred successor under the platform of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the governor said in a statement on Tuesday.

He explained that Seriki is the candidate needed to transform the state at this time, calling on his party members to support him to win.

“Young, pro-people, astute, and broad-minded, Amb. Yahaya Seriki has been a great political mobiliser with profound investments in and extensive goodwill among the people of Kwara State. I have no doubt about his capacity and that his choice is appropriate for the people of our state at this time.

“While this does not in any way preclude all other aspirants from contesting in the primaries, I urge members and leaders to affirm the choice of Seriki as our candidate for cohesion, unity, and continuous success of the party as we hold our gubernatorial primaries on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

“The choice of Amb. Yahaya Seriki is neither a disapproval of any of our eminently qualified aspirants nor a whimsical attempt to delegitimise the noble aspirations of our people. But in a race involving some 16 great minds for one office, only one person can take the shot at a time.

“Finally, I acknowledge and commend the statesmanship of our aspirants, all of whom have shown discipline and impressive capacity to build on the undeniable achievements of our administration over the last seven years for the good of the people of Kwara State.”