A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Wakilin of Ilorin Emirate, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, popularly known as MM, has thrown his weight behind the emergence of Engr. Bolakale Kawu as the consensus governorship candidate of the PDP in Kwara State, while calling for unity of purpose ahead of the 2027 general elections.
MM made this known during the official unveiling of Engr. Kale Kawu as the party’s consensus governorship candidate at the PDP State Secretariat in Ilorin on Saturday.
He commended the other PDP governorship aspirants, Hon. Omar Bolaji Gambari and Prof. Ali Ahmad, for respecting party supremacy and prioritizing the success of the party, noting that greater opportunities still lie ahead for them.
According to him, the consensus arrangement was the product of painstaking consultations and a series of strategic meetings aimed at strengthening the party ahead of the elections.
MM stressed the need for unity among party members as the PDP prepares for the 2027 polls, saying, “We must work together to secure electoral victory.”
He added, “We are one big family. There may be many governorship aspirants, but our focus now is not on individual ambitions. To ensure that Bolakale Kawu wins and becomes governor, we must all embrace unity of purpose and work together.”
Meanwhile, elder statesman and former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, disclosed that the consensus-driven nomination process was jointly proposed and adopted by all the governorship aspirants, who had pledged to support whoever eventually emerged as the party’s candidate.
Baraje made this known while addressing party stakeholders at the PDP State Secretariat in Ilorin on Saturday.
According to him, the aspirants signed commitment documents on three separate occasions to demonstrate their resolve to abide by the outcome of the process.
“We thank God for bringing us this far. Our party is so organized that it has become a source of concern for the ruling party,” he said.
READ ALSO: 2027: Kwara PDP Adopts Engr. Kale Kawu as Consensus Governorship Candidate
“We have held a series of meetings over the past week. I am here alongside Hon. Mashood Mustapha to represent our leader, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. One of the aspirants, Prof. Ali Ahmad, could not attend because he is bereaved.”
Baraje described the process as one of the most unique political consensus-building efforts he has witnessed, adding that Dr. Bukola Saraki ensured that all relevant stakeholders and segments of society were carried along throughout the consultations.
He continued, “Dr. Bukola Saraki asked the aspirants to meet and deliberate for one week, and they all agreed that whoever emerged as the governorship candidate would enjoy the support of the others.
“They signed documents to that effect on three different occasions as a demonstration of commitment, and this morning, the choice of Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu was officially announced.”
Baraje further stated that the ruling APC appears to be grappling with internal confusion over its own governorship succession plans, adding that political calculations currently favour Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu.
He also commended Kawu’s co-aspirants for displaying maturity, political discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the process, noting that they all come from respected family backgrounds.
