The Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled 12 governorship candidates and their running mates for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election.
The candidates were unveiled at the commission’s office in Ilorin, the state capital, on Saturday. They are representing different political parties that are preparing to contest the election. The All Progressives Congress is fielding the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as its governorship candidate. Bello Mubarak Salau will serve as his running mate.
The APC conducted its governorship primary in May under the chairmanship of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Following the exercise, Danladi-Salihu emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 poll.
PDP, SDP unveil their candidates
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has picked Bolakale Kawu as its governorship candidate, while Fawenu Corlenius will serve as his running mate. Similarly, the Social Democratic Party has entered the race with Apaokagi Salahudeen as its candidate and Kolawole Thawphic as his running mate.
Salahudeen previously contested the Kwara Central Senatorial District seat in the 2023 general election. This time, however, he is seeking the governorship and will challenge the ruling APC for control of the state.
Other parties join Kwara 2027 race
In addition to the APC, PDP and SDP, several other political parties have fielded candidates for the governorship election. These include the Action Democratic Party, Accord Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Movement, National Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and New Nigeria Peoples Party.
As a result, the unveiling has provided a clearer picture of the political contest ahead of the 2027 election. The various parties are now expected to intensify their campaigns and other preparations for the poll.
Full list of Kwara 2027 governorship candidates
The candidates unveiled by INEC are:
- All Progressives Congress (APC): Yakubu Danladi-Salihu — Bello Mubarak Salau
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Bolakale Kawu — Fawenu Corlenius
- Social Democratic Party (SDP): Apaokagi Salahudeen — Kolawole Thawphic
- Action Democratic Party (ADP): Adeshina Ajisafe — Suleiman Jubri
- Accord Party: Seko Jubril Gure — Michael Jolayemi
- Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Yinka Ajia — Olayide Olawuyi
- Action Peoples Party (APP): Omotoso Bamidele Olaitan — Aremu Toyin Wahab
- Action Alliance (AA): Kolo Ezekiel — Olanipekun Ismail Olabode
- Action Peoples Movement (APM): Oluwole Tolu — Jaiyeola Motunrayo
- National Democratic Party (NDP): Decean Shola Victor Abioye — Issa Salihu
- All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Sule Ajayi — Afolabi Moses Folorunsho
- New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Lamidi Isiaka Akanni — Grace Abosede Ogundele
Furthermore, the first name in each entry represents the governorship candidate, while the second name represents the running mate. With the candidates now unveiled, political activities in Kwara are expected to gather pace as parties position themselves for the 2027 governorship election.
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