More than seven years after the political tsunami that swept away one of Nigeria’s most entrenched state political structures, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara is attempting to bounce back to power.
To this end, the party has worked out a consensus agreement among governorship aspirants in order to avoid crisis.
Our correspondent reports that the Abuja consensus meeting, convened by former Senate President and party leader Dr. Bukola Saraki, was attended by leading governorship aspirants. The roll call included Prof. Ali Ahmad, Engr. Kale Kawu, Omar Bolaji Gambari, Ladi Hassan, and Olaseni Ibiwoye.
A source told our correspondent that beneath the language of unity lies a battle over who truly represents the PDP’s best chance of confronting the ruling APC in 2027.
Daily Trust recalls that in its bid to relaunch its political fortunes in Kwara, the PDP has recalibrated on several fronts, with the climax perhaps being the recent mega rally across the Ilorin metropolis. The move was widely interpreted as a deliberate attempt to resell the party to voters after years of being defined by the APC as the “defeated establishment,” ahead of 2027.
During the event, the PDP sought to weaponize public frustration over insecurity, economic pressure, and governance complaints.
The Saraki political dynasty once dominated the state, penetrating every layer of politics. Then, suddenly, everything collapsed.
The APC then successfully transformed public frustration into mass mobilization, leading the PDP to lose the governorship, National Assembly seats, and state legislative positions almost completely.
Our correspondent observed that what many expected to be the permanent death of the Saraki structure never fully happened. Instead, the political machine retreated, reorganized quietly, and waited for the right opportunity to relaunch.
Ironically, the PDP’s growing confidence may have less to do with its own strength and more to do with emerging vulnerabilities within the ruling APC.
In 2019, the APC benefited from the momentum of the Otoge revolution. Today, however, the dynamics have shifted. The ruling party now bears the burden of incumbency, economic hardship, and rising public expectations. The looming battle over who succeeds Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq may become the PDP’s biggest opening.
According to the PDP Publicity Secretary, Olusola Adewara: “The party is very much on the ground in Kwara, ably led by Dr. Bukola Saraki. You can see that the people have seen beyond the Otoge propaganda and realize our party is the best alternative. We had a very successful mega rally recently, and our approach to selecting our gubernatorial aspirants has been well-coordinated.”
Insiders suggest the PDP is looking to present a highly popular candidate to boost its comeback fortunes. While figures like Prof. Ali Ahmad remain among the most experienced and intellectually visible aspirants, many believe that Kale Kawu or Bolaji Gambari may better fit the current political mood.
There is a standing argument that the deeper challenge for the PDP is how to retain the Saraki political machinery without appearing trapped in the same old image that triggered the 2019 backlash. Within sections of the party, Kale Kawu is viewed as one of the most popular aspirants. However, his emergence is not yet guaranteed.
According to an insider: “Although we have sellable candidates like Prof. Ali Ahmad, Ladi Hassan, and others, Kale Kawu—the Dan Iyan of Ilorin—represents the search for a middle path between continuity and reinvention. However, anything can happen; we are still in the process.”
For Bukola Saraki, the governorship decision carries enormous personal and political consequences; an unpopular candidate could worsen the party’s position. The former Senate President appears to be balancing multiple calculations simultaneously vis-à-vis who can unite the PDP internally, withstand APC attacks, reconnect with younger voters, and avoid making the election look like a direct attempt to restore the pre-2019 order.
This balancing act explains why the consensus process matters so much. Leadership appears determined to avoid the destructive internal fragmentation that often weakens opposition parties before elections begin.
National President of the Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, said the party’s chances of reclaiming power are “yes and no.”
He said, “the consensus may be coming rather late. They have allowed opinions to be formed and emotional attachments to develop around different aspirants.”
He warned that any arrangement that sidelines certain aspirants could trigger either open or subtle antipathy. “This consensus thing ought to have been on the table before now. The aftermath will show whether there was really a consensus or not,” he added.
He noted that many of the party’s key figures are not sufficiently present within Kwara State to sustain direct contact with the electorate, warning that philanthropy cannot substitute for strategic engagement.
“For a party that has been out of power for years, that party cannot be complacent. Whoever wants to reclaim power must fight for it,” he stated.
Saliu cautioned the PDP against assuming that public grievances against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration would automatically translate into victory. He maintained that the PDP must convert public grievances into electoral value through coordinated communication.
DAILY TRUST.
