Supporters of the All Progressives Congress gathered in large numbers on Saturday in the Kwara Central Senatorial District. They held a rally in Ilorin to rally support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and other party candidates as the 2027 general elections approach.
A statement shared with PUNCH Online on Sunday said the rally was led by Monsurat Lawal, the Senior Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation. It started at the General Hospital Roundabout in Ilorin and went through key parts of the city, including Surulere, Agaka, Oja Oba Market, Gambari, Ita-adu, Kankatu, Omoda, and Alore.
The participants wore matching outfits and danced to pro-APC songs. They also carried banners supporting the party’s candidates, including AbdulRazaq, who is seeking the party’s ticket for the Kwara Central Senatorial District.
While speaking during the rally, Lawal said the event aimed to show support for the governor and help gather votes for APC candidates. "This public demonstration is rooted in our love, support and commitment to mobilising votes for our hard-working leader and Governor, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is contesting for the Senate," Lawal said.
She mentioned that the rally also aimed to strengthen support for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the state. She expressed confidence that voters would back the party due to its performance. Lawal called for peace and unity among party members, urging them to maintain their support for APC candidates across the state.
"We also staged the rally in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates across the state. We believe that Kwarans are students of history, who have felt the impacts of this government in positive ways.
"They know the difference between Kwara of yesterday and today. We are confident that they would not make moves that could bring us back. We are indeed going forward," she added.
The Deputy Speaker of the Ilorin West Legislative Council, Sherifat Balogun, encouraged party members who were not happy to reconcile with the APC. She said the governor’s administration is changing the state.
"APC is in charge, as evident in the turnout. We didn’t hire anybody. You can see all of us in uniform. These are just a few of us who came out from Kwara Central because it’s a voluntary rally. Nobody is paying us for anything," she explained. Balogun emphasized that the aim was to showcase the Governor’s success story and the feedback from citizens.
She urged dissatisfied members to return and support the administration. "We are appealing to the aggrieved members to join the moving train for the continuity of good works that the Governor is doing."
Another party member from Oloje Ward, Amb. Zakariya Jumai, praised AbdulRazaq for promoting gender inclusion. She noted that his administration has created chances for women and young people to take part in decision-making.
Jumai expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral chances. She encouraged party supporters to keep mobilising for its candidates. "The major party we have in Kwara is APC. Others are minority, and we are majority. We can beat our chest and tell the whole world that APC is 100% in Kwara State, and we guarantee that we will be the winner of the upcoming elections, Insha Allah."
"We just gathered members of APC who are here to display support and promote the candidates. We are here to canvass for them, to let them know the purpose of women, and to let them know the women are behind them."
Jumai added, "We are innovative, and we appreciate the Governor for motivating us. We have women who are commissioners, senior special assistants (SSAs), and special assistants (SAs), among others, and they are performing creditably well."
Hajia Falilat Saka, known as Iya Eleja, also spoke. She said the rally showed women’s support for AbdulRazaq, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, and other APC candidates.
"Today’s rally shows that women in Kwara Central and across the state are solidly behind Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, and other APC candidates, and they would all have the day in the 2027 general elections," she said.
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