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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Kwara 2027: Don Predicts Vote Split as APC, ADC Pick Candidates from Same LGA

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A political scientist predicts a vote split in Kwara State's 2027 governorship election due to the APC and ADC fielding candidates from the same local government area.
  • Dr. Abubakar Lasiele stated this decision amounts to an "own goal" for both parties, as the candidates will divide votes within their shared base.
  • Lasiele also criticized the increasing politicization of Eid prayer grounds, urging political actors to respect the sanctity of religious spaces.

A political scientist has identified a significant strategic error in the candidate selections for the upcoming 2027 Kwara State governorship election. Dr. Abubakar Lasiele, a former senior lecturer at the University of Ilorin, believes both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) have made a "major political miscalculation" by choosing their governorship candidates from the same Local Government Area (LGA).

I don’t see any political sense in the APC and ADC picking their candidates from the same local government area. No matter how you look at it, it is already an own goal for them.

— Dr. Abubakar LasieleThe political scientist explained his assessment of the candidate selections for the Kwara State governorship election.

Dr. Lasiele described this move as an "own goal" for both parties. He explained that fielding candidates Engr. Yakubu Danladi (APC) and Hon. Zakari Mohammed (ADC), both from Baruten LGA, will inevitably lead to vote splitting within their common political base. This, he argued, leaves other politically crucial districts relatively open to other contenders.

Hon. Zakari particularly has an upper hand because he once represented the Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. So, he is not a stranger politically.

— Dr. Abubakar LasieleThe political scientist commented on the potential advantage of one of the candidates.

"No matter how you look at it, it is already an own goal for them," Dr. Lasiele stated. He noted that Hon. Zakari Mohammed might hold a slight advantage due to his prior experience representing the Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. However, this advantage is confined to their shared Kwara North region, where they will compete for the same votes.

The critical question parties should ask before choosing candidates is this: without incumbency or godfather backing, can this candidate stand on his own and win an election?

— Dr. Abubakar LasieleThe political scientist discussed the criteria parties should use when selecting candidates.

The political scientist emphasized the importance of a candidate's independent electoral value, separate from incumbency or godfather influence. He urged parties to prioritize candidates who can win elections on their own merit. Dr. Lasiele also condemned the growing trend of politicizing Eid prayer grounds, warning against using religious gatherings for campaign purposes and calling for restraint from political stakeholders.

It is a desecration of the sanctity of the Eid ground for politicians to turn such spaces into campaign opportunities.

— Dr. Abubakar LasieleThe political scientist condemned the politicization of religious gatherings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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