Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said the inclusion of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council will strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 election.

AbdulRazaq made the remarks on Sunday in Ilorin while receiving members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council led by its Director-General, Senator Abdulazeez Yari.

The governor described Kwara as a stronghold of the ruling party, claiming that the APC had maintained a 70 per cent to 30 per cent electoral advantage over the Peoples Democratic Party in the state since 2019.

He argued that Wike’s participation in the APC campaign structure, coupled with his reported support for Tinubu, would further improve the ruling party’s prospects.

AbdulRazaq said the political alignment involving Wike would effectively eliminate the gap between the two major parties in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“With the national leader of PDP being a member of our campaign council and declaring that his party, the PDP, will vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it means that the PDP 30 per cent versus our 70 per cent is now adding up to 100 per cent,” the governor said.

He added that the development could make Kwara one of the APC’s easiest states to win in the presidential contest.

The governor welcomed the campaign council delegation and praised its members for their political experience and contributions to national development.

He also commended the council for beginning its nationwide engagements ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the early mobilisation as an indication of its preparedness for the campaign.

Among those in the delegation were former governors Aminu Bello Masari, Rochas Okorocha, Ali Modu Sheriff, Adamu Aliero, Abubakar Badaru, Danjuma Goje, Ibrahim Shema, Sani Yerima, Abdullahi Ganduje and Olusegun Mimiko.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and Olubunmi Ette were also part of the delegation.

The visit was attended by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC governorship candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, his running mate, Seun Oguniyi Adato, and the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, among other government and party officials.

The governor used the occasion to highlight what he described as the achievements of his administration since assuming office in 2019.

He cited investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and civil service welfare, as well as measures aimed at addressing outstanding salary, pension and gratuity obligations.

AbdulRazaq also pointed to KwaraLEARN, a technology-based programme introduced in public basic schools, which he said had helped improve teacher attendance and learning outcomes.

According to him, the state was facing significant financial and administrative challenges when his administration took office, including unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities.

He said those arrears had largely become a thing of the past, adding that the government’s performance could be measured through improvements experienced by workers and residents.

The governor also expressed confidence in Danladi, the party’s governorship candidate, describing him as a grassroots politician with a strong understanding of the administration and its policies.

He said Danladi’s experience as Speaker of the state legislature would help ensure continuity because of his familiarity with government programmes, budget processes and legislative oversight.

AbdulRazaq noted that Danladi’s running mate was also a member of the State House of Assembly, arguing that the pair understood the state’s political and administrative environment.

Earlier, Yari said the delegation was in Kwara to acknowledge AbdulRazaq’s contributions to the APC and seek his continued support for the party’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

He thanked the governor for the reception given to the delegation upon its arrival at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin.

Yari described AbdulRazaq as an important figure in the party’s efforts to secure victory not only in Kwara but across the country.

He also acknowledged the governor’s contributions to discussions involving President Tinubu and the campaign council, assuring him of continued cooperation.

The delegation subsequently visited the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to seek his prayers and support for Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

At the palace, Yari praised the President’s administration and AbdulRazaq’s leadership in Kwara while appealing to the traditional ruler to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Sulu-Gambari thanked the delegation for the visit and offered prayers for the success of Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.