Senator Saliu Mustapha has stated that Kwara North Senatorial District does not possess sufficient voting strength on its own to produce a governor of Kwara State. 

The comment was made during a recent television interview as political discussions intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, argued that the numerical advantage of his district and historical voting patterns make it difficult for the North to independently deliver a statewide victory.

He maintained that Kwara politics has traditionally been decided more by competence and broad appeal than by strict zoning or rotation among the three senatorial districts.

The remark comes at a time when Kwara North has been pressing for the governorship, noting that the district has never produced a governor since the state was created. Recent party primaries saw a candidate from the North emerge as the ruling party’s flag bearer, heightening debates over equity and electoral arithmetic.

Reactions to the senator’s position have been mixed. Some stakeholders from Kwara South and North have suggested possible alliances that could challenge Central’s dominance, while others described the comment as insensitive to long-standing calls for inclusion from the northern part of the state.

Kwara Central, which includes the Ilorin metropolis and surrounding local governments, has historically accounted for the largest share of votes in statewide contests. Mustapha’s intervention has added another layer to the unfolding contest over who will lead the state after the current administration.