Kwara Senator Sadiq Umar Announces Bid for 2027 Governorship

Senator Sadiq Umar, representing Kwara North, has declared his plans to contest for the governorship seat in Kwara State during the 2027 elections.

The senator, who is affiliated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made this announcement on Monday while appearing on the political show "Politics Tonight" on TVC.

Umar is reportedly well-prepared for the role, highlighting that his over seven years of experience in national governance has provided him with valuable insights into effective leadership.

He stated, "Firstly, I appreciate your question because the primary elections are currently being planned. For clarity, I, Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, will be running for the governorship of Kwara State in 2027 under the APC banner."

Continuing, he asserted, "I am thoroughly ready to contest, win, and lead the state because I believe, by the grace of God, my extensive governmental experience equips me well for this responsibility."

Umar guarantees residents that if elected, he will utilize his knowledge in development management to foster progress across various sectors in Kwara.

“I have been involved in developmental initiatives and possess a strong understanding of development management. I assure you that I will leverage this experience effectively to achieve success, with God’s help,” he added.

Umar is now the second active lawmaker from Kwara State to announce his candidacy for the governorship race. Earlier in February, Senator Oyelola Ashiru from Kwara South publicly expressed his intentions to run for the same office while meeting with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Offa.

Both Umar and Ashiru are members of the APC. The current governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, also from the APC, represents the Kwara Central Senatorial District and will conclude his term in 2027. His predecessor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, served two consecutive terms from 2011 to 2019.

Kwara North, represented by Umar, has not had a governor since Shaaba Lafiagi, who held office for 22 months from January 1992 until November 1993. This situation has intensified calls for the region to have its chance in the next election.

Before the party selects a candidate for the governorship election, the contenders must face off in internal party primaries.

In addition, Umar highlighted concerns regarding the rising insecurity in Kwara, particularly in Northern areas and bordering communities. Armed groups, reportedly from Niger and Kebbi states, have increasingly targeted rural areas, causing violence, kidnappings, and displacing families.

Local government areas like Kaiama, Baruten, and Edu have experienced repeated attacks, often occurring at night when gunmen invade villages, leading to loss of life and abandoned farmlands due to persistent threats.

Addressing the issue, Umar emphasized that his constituents have greatly felt the impact of this insecurity but noted that both the state and federal governments are making strides to restore peace to affected areas.

He encouraged the community to remain hopeful and support lawful efforts aimed at combating insecurity statewide.