A former APC governorship aspirant in Kwara, Olawale Sulaiman, has expressed confidence that the party will retain the state in the 2027 general elections, saying it remains the best option for Kwara and Nigeria.

Mr Sulaiman acknowledged on Thursday concerns over inflation, the high cost of living, and the challenges facing the country amid ongoing economic reforms.

Mr Sulaiman, a renowned neurosurgeon, however, said the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration were necessary to reposition the country for sustainable growth.

The former governorship aspirant said that his political journey, including his experience as a governorship aspirant, had given him deeper insight into the dynamics of Kwara politics.

He stated that while contesting on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform, his team changed the political conversation in the state by securing 25,000 votes through an issue-based campaign.

The outcome, he said, showed that the people of the state were politically conscious and capable of assessing competing ideas and records.

Mr Sulaiman said that he had compared the performances of both administrations in healthcare, education, sports infrastructure and overall development.

According to him, APC has a stronger record to present to voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, and he insists that the opposition will struggle to match the party’s achievements.

On the likely voting pattern in the 2027 governorship election, Mr Sulaiman predicted that the Kwara North Senatorial District would unite behind the APC candidate, while votes from the Kwara Central Senatorial District could be divided among several contenders.

While describing Kwara South as the likely deciding factor, he expressed confidence that APC would emerge victorious, given its performance and the electorate’s understanding.

The medical expert-turned-politician also urged the people of the state to focus less on individual politicians and pay greater attention to holding elected leaders accountable.

He said that citizens must rekindle their civic consciousness and demand responsive governance from whoever emerges as the next governor of the state.

(NAN)