Kwara PDP Calms Fears on Leaders Supporting Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State has eased worries that some of its leaders joining President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign could hurt its National Assembly candidates in the 2027 elections. They believe voters will make their own choices at the polls.

The party's State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, spoke on Sunday after inquiries from PUNCH Online about how the party plans to protect its candidates amid reports that some PDP leaders are aligning with Tinubu's campaign.

Adewara pointed out that the main issues for Kwara residents are with the state government. He insisted that the President is not to blame for the problems the party claims people are facing in the state.

The PDP spokesman also accused the state government of actions that are hurting traders and small businesses in Ilorin. He mentioned the reported flogging of market women at Oja Oba and the demolition of shops across the city.

He said, "Like we’ve been saying, President Tinubu is not our problem in Kwara. He is not the one who made life difficult for our people despite billions of naira in monthly allocations.

"He’s not the one who asked soldiers to be flogging market women in Oja Oba. He’s not the one demolishing people’s shops and killing businesses across Ilorin metropolis. You all know who’s doing that."

He added that the party's focus for the 2027 elections is to support its candidates for national and state offices, including the governorship. The party does not want the presidential race to overshadow its plans in Kwara.

"What matters to us in the PDP come 2027 is Kwara, and when we say Kwara, we mean every person that will represent us in the next dispensation of leadership, from the National Assembly to the State Assembly to the governor," he said.

When asked if the involvement of some PDP leaders in Tinubu’s campaign could hurt the party’s National Assembly candidates, who will be on the ballot with the presidential candidates, Adewara said the key issue is whether voters will back the party.

He also downplayed any risks to the party's candidates, saying he believes voters will know the difference between the presidential election and other contests.

"The issue on the ground is not about the competitive capacity of our candidates; it is about the determination of Kwarans to support our party to prove to the current administration that the people have the power to change people in power when they mess with them.

"There is no risk anywhere. Our people are far more politically conscious and sophisticated than you can imagine. When they get to the polls, the voting pattern will speak for itself," he said.

To support his point, the PDP spokesman mentioned the 2023 elections in Erinle. He said voters chose the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate while electing the PDP candidate, Taiye Afolabi, for the House of Assembly.

"In 2023, the people of Erinle demonstrated this clearly by voting for the APC candidate for governor while simultaneously electing Otunba Taiye Afolabi, the PDP candidate, as their House of Assembly representative.

"This is proof that our people understand the power of their votes and can make independent choices based on the candidates and the offices involved," he said.

Adewara expressed confidence that voters will separate their presidential choices from their picks for other positions.