The Kwara South Solidarity Movement has endorsed the position of senior All Progressives Congress stakeholders in Kwara State calling for the emergence of a credible, widely acceptable and unifying governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

The group also reaffirmed its support for the second-term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to listen to party elders opposed to the imposition of a governorship candidate in the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Coordinator, Adigun Olarewaju Gudugba, and Secretary, Comrade T. D. Ashaolu, the movement said the intervention of the APC elders was necessary to protect party unity, internal democracy and the electoral strength of the party in Kwara State.

KSSM aligned itself with the position advanced by APC leaders led by Chief James Bamisaye Ayeni, Senator M. S. Ajadi, Senator Ahmed Ahmed and Barrister Suleiman Jawondo, SAN, among other party stakeholders.

The group said the elders’ call for a broadly acceptable governorship candidate reflected patriotism and political foresight, adding that the position should receive serious attention from the Presidency.

“The decision of these revered elders to advocate for the emergence of a broadly acceptable, credible, and unifying governorship candidate for the 2027 general election is both patriotic and strategically prudent,” the statement said.

It added that the intervention demonstrated the leaders’ commitment to party cohesion, political stability and the continued electoral success of the APC in Kwara State.

The movement said it recognised the sacrifices, political investments and loyalty of party elders who had spoken against candidate imposition, describing them as grassroots political leaders whose structures had contributed to APC victories across wards, local government areas and senatorial districts.

KSSM urged President Tinubu, as the national leader of the APC, to consider the counsel of the elders, saying their views were shaped by experience and a desire to preserve the unity and future of the party.

The group also appealed to traditional rulers across Kwara South to preserve the neutrality and dignity of traditional institutions by avoiding public involvement in partisan political activities.

It said traditional rulers remained symbols of cultural heritage, communal harmony and moral authority and should not be exposed to political controversy, manipulation or public misinterpretation.

KSSM noted that the non-partisan posture of traditional rulers was one of the factors that contributed to the success of the APC in Kwara State, stressing that politicians could seek royal blessings and counsel without drawing monarchs into partisan contests.

The movement cautioned royal fathers against publicly endorsing governorship aspirants or identifying with partisan interests, saying such restraint would protect the sanctity of the traditional institution.

It pledged to continue advocating inclusiveness, internal democracy and political decisions capable of strengthening democratic institutions and advancing development in Kwara South and Kwara State at large.