Tens of thousands of people comprising leaders, candidates and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State on Sunday staged a ‘Thank You’ rally in Ilorin for the successful conduct of the party’s primaries and in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Kwara APC governorship candidate, Mr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu; and all other candidates in the forthcoming general election.
Dubbed Kwara Ndupe Rally, the event saw thousands of the party’s faithful crisscrossing major roads in Ilorin metropolis – from Queen Elizabeth School – Surulere – Oja-Oba – Post Office to the party’s secretariat in GRA – with different attires, fliers and banners in support of candidates of the party at all levels.
Speaking during the rally in Ilorin,
the Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Oba Magaji Abdulkadri, expressed satisfaction with the large turnout at the event, describing it as evidence of the unity within the APC.
“We are very happy. As you can see, everyone is in a joyous mood,” he said.
On the party’s future in the state, Abdulkadri said the APC remained firmly positioned to retain its dominance.
“The future in Kwara State is APC from top to bottom, by the grace of Allah. The future is very bright,” he said.
Reacting to questions on the opposition, he said the ruling party had no reason to fear any rival in a democracy.
“We are not afraid. We will continue to remain united and work together for the progress of the party and the state,” he said.
Senior Adviser and Counselor to the Governor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, for his part, said the party is ready for issue-based campaigns and a door-to-door mobilization, charging all members to remain resolute and committed to ensuring electoral victory at the general election.
“This rally must translate to PVC collection, voter registration, and polling-unit victory in February 2027. There must not be complacency,” he said.
“We will campaign on record, not insult, because our party has a record of road network, schools, hospitals, and regular payment of salaries to show to Kwarans. The opposition has nothing.”
State Chairman of APC, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said he was impressed with the massive turnout and expressed hope that the party will coast to victory in 2027.
“With what I have seen here, it is good to say that all our candidates are in. More people are still coming to join our party,” the chairman said.
Fagbemi, who spoke through the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, urged aggrieved members of the APC to allow the party to address their grievances.
Kwara State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Alhaji Abdulateef Alakawa, described the party’s rally as a demonstration of unity and appreciation following the successful conduct of the APC primary elections in the state.
Alakawa said the event was organised to thank God and the leadership of the APC for responding to the aspirations of party members during the primaries.
He said the emergence of candidates for various elective positions reflected the will of party members through the direct primary election process.
According to him, the rally also served as a rehearsal for the 2027 general election and an opportunity to reaffirm the loyalty of APC members in Kwara to President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“Power belongs to the people, and the people have spoken through the direct primary elections. We are grateful to God that the primaries were peaceful and successful, with our candidates emerging across the various positions,” Alakawa said.
Alakawa said the APC remained a united family and had already initiated reconciliation efforts to address whatever grievances arising from the primaries.
“In every democratic process, there will be winners and others who may not emerge. As far as the APC is concerned, we have no losers. The party has already constituted a reconciliation committee, and we are confident all issues will be resolved,” he said.
Also speaking, the APC candidate for Kwara North Senatorial District, Dr Ahmad Umar Muhammad, thanked party members and the people of Kwara North for the confidence reposed in him during the primaries.
He also appreciated President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq for their leadership and support, particularly the decision to zone the governorship ticket to Kwara North.
Muhammad said the gesture reflected fairness and inclusiveness within the party, adding that APC remained well positioned to retain power in the state in 2027.
“We appreciate the people of Kwara State for giving Kwara North the opportunity to produce the next governor. Today’s rally demonstrates the confidence and support the people have for the leadership of Governor AbdulRazaq and the APC,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, Muhammad said the APC would record another victory in the next general election.
“We are confident of victory. APC has continued to enjoy the support of the people, and we believe that will be sustained,” he said.
The APC candidate for Kwara South Senatorial District, Prince Olalekan Adewoye, also expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for finding him worthy to fly the party’s flag.
Adewoye described the APC as one united family, stressing that the outcome of the primaries reflected the collective decision of party members.
He thanked President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq and party leaders at the national, state, local government and ward levels for their support.
“I am grateful to God and to the leadership of our party for the confidence reposed in me. Without their support, this would not have been possible,” he said.
In his remarks, APC candidate for Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency, Dr Rafiu Ajakaye, said the large turnout of people at the rally attests to the fact that the APC is the party to beat.
“I feel great, excited, and grateful to the leaders and the structure of our party – starting from the president, His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State, and all our leaders and party members across the three senatorial districts,” Ajakaye said.
“The crowd here is a testament to the fact that the APC is the party to beat. The election is ours to lose. We have won the elections before. The results were so overwhelming. This rally is organic enough.
“You can see the support and the excitement. We are indeed grateful to the party faithful and indeed members of the public who also joined us during the rally.”
