Unverified claims suggest a possible understanding involving Governor AbdulRazaq, ADC’s Bolaji Abdullahi and the governorship and presidential contests
Fresh allegations of a possible backroom arrangement between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State have raised questions about the political calculations unfolding ahead of the 2027 general election.
Sources familiar with the state’s political developments allege that, beneath the public rivalry between the two parties, discussions involving influential political figures may be shaping strategies for both the governorship and presidential contests.
At the centre of the allegations are Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the sources, an alleged understanding between the two politicians could involve competing interests in the state’s governorship election and the presidential contest.
Under the purported arrangement, AbdulRazaq is alleged to have sought Abdullahi’s discreet assistance in strengthening the chances of the APC governorship candidate, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, potentially at the expense of the ADC candidate, Hon. Zakari Mohammed.
In return, the sources claim, the governor may be expected to facilitate support for the ADC’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in Kwara State.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and no evidence establishing the existence of such an agreement has been presented in the information available for this report. The positions of the politicians involved would be important in determining the credibility of the claims.
Alleged N100m Support and Governorship Calculations
The sources also pointed to an earlier allegation that Mohammed received N100 million as support for his political ambition, a claim he reportedly denied publicly.
The circumstances surrounding the allegation remain unclear. It has not been established whether the purported payment, if any, was connected to the alleged understanding between the APC and ADC figures.
The governorship contest is also complicated by the fact that Danladi-Salihu and Mohammed are said to come from the same local government area.
The sources contend that Mohammed’s political experience and grassroots connections could make him a significant contender in the local contest. However, the strength of the candidates’ support bases and the effect of any alleged political arrangement would ultimately depend on voter choices and other campaign factors.
According to the account, AbdulRazaq had earlier been unable to prevent Mohammed from securing the ADC governorship ticket and subsequently sought to establish a political understanding that could affect the contest.
Disagreement Over Kwara’s Governorship Ticket
The allegations further suggest that the governor’s choice of a governorship candidate from Kwara North may have conflicted with advice attributed to President Bola Tinubu, who was reportedly said to favour greater consideration for Kwara Central in the succession calculations.
The sources also alleged that AbdulRazaq’s relationship with the President had been affected by previous political disagreements, including an alleged understanding concerning the choice of a running mate in 2019.
These claims, however, require independent confirmation.
The account also revisits the emergence of AbdulRazaq as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), describing it as a product of circumstances rather than an unqualified endorsement by the Presidency.
It alleges that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State had been considered for the position but faced questions about his political loyalties following the 2023 APC presidential primaries and general election.
The allegations concerning Sule’s political choices and the President’s considerations in the NGF leadership contest have not been independently established.
Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, is portrayed by the sources as enjoying a close working relationship with the President.
Seriki’s Endorsement and Subsequent Shift
Another key element of the allegations concerns AbdulRazaq’s reported consideration of potential successors within the APC.
According to the account, the governor publicly endorsed Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki on May 19, 2026, before subsequently raising concerns about issues that could affect Seriki’s candidacy.
The sources claim that AbdulRazaq later settled on Danladi-Salihu as his preferred candidate, a development they suggest contributed to tensions between the governor and the Presidency over the direction of the Kwara APC.
The circumstances surrounding the reported endorsement, the subsequent change in preference and the alleged reaction from the Presidency require further confirmation.
The sources argue that the reported disagreement may have encouraged AbdulRazaq to explore political understandings beyond his party as he considers the succession question and his position after leaving office.
Kwara North, Zoning and the 2027 Contest
The alleged arrangement is also being linked to the longstanding debate over political inclusion and power-sharing among Kwara’s three senatorial districts: Kwara North, Kwara Central and Kwara South.
Supporters of greater representation for Kwara North have argued for a stronger role for the district in the state’s political leadership. The sources claim that the governor’s calculations may be influenced by this debate.
Under the alleged strategy, any weakening of Mohammed’s grassroots organisation could affect the ADC’s governorship campaign, while stronger support for Danladi-Salihu could alter the dynamics of the contest.
However, political alliances do not automatically translate into votes. Voters in Baruten and other parts of the state will make their choices based on a range of considerations, including candidates’ records, party platforms, local interests and campaign performance.
The broader allegation is that any understanding between AbdulRazaq and Abdullahi could extend beyond the governorship race to the presidential election, potentially creating a situation in which political interests at the state level influence support for candidates at the national level.
If substantiated, such an arrangement would raise questions about party loyalty, internal political negotiations and the relationship between state-level succession plans and national electoral ambitions.
For now, the alleged APC-ADC bargain remains unverified. Establishing whether any agreement exists would require direct responses from the governor, the ADC spokesman and the candidates concerned, alongside evidence capable of corroborating the claims.
As the 2027 elections approach, the central question is whether these allegations reflect actual political negotiations or speculation surrounding the increasingly complex contest for power in Kwara State.
