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ABUJA – A renowned neurosurgeon, philanthropist and national honouree, Professor Wale Sulaiman, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) enters the 2027 governorship contest in Kwara State with a stronger performance record than the opposition, arguing that the party’s achievements in government would ultimately shape the choices of voters.
Sulaiman, a former governorship aspirant in the state, made the assertion during an interview with journalists on Thursday, where he assessed the political outlook ahead of the next general elections, reflected on the APC’s internal dynamics and urged citizens to place greater emphasis on accountability and governance than on political personalities.
While acknowledging the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, including rising inflation and the high cost of living, Sulaiman maintained that the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration were necessary to reposition the country for long-term growth.
“Despite the challenges of day-to-day living, the high cost of living and inflation, I believe Nigeria is going in the right direction,” he said.
Reflecting on his own political experience, Sulaiman said his participation in the 2023 governorship race under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) broadened his understanding of Kwara’s political landscape and demonstrated that the electorate was increasingly receptive to issue-based campaigns.
He recalled that his campaign secured about 25,000 votes despite operating outside the two dominant political parties, describing the outcome as evidence that many Kwarans were willing to evaluate candidates based on ideas rather than political affiliation.
According to him, his assessment of successive administrations in the state was informed by firsthand observation rather than partisan considerations.
“I have witnessed Kwara under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and I am seeing Kwara under the APC government. I am not talking about personalities; I am talking about real issues and real-life experiences,” he said.
Sulaiman said he had compared the records of both administrations across critical sectors, including healthcare, education, sports infrastructure and general development, concluding that the APC had built a stronger case to present to the electorate.
“There is nothing the opposition can say during campaigns that can beat APC at the polls,” he said.
Projecting the likely electoral map in 2027, Sulaiman predicted that Kwara North would vote overwhelmingly for the APC, while Kwara Central could witness a more fragmented contest among multiple aspirants. He described Kwara South as the zone most likely to determine the outcome of the election.
“Based on the performances of the two parties, and knowing my people, I think APC will still carry the day in 2027 in Kwara State,” he said.
Beyond electoral calculations, Sulaiman urged residents of the state to become more active in demanding responsive governance, insisting that public office holders should be judged by their performance rather than political loyalty.
“We need to reawaken the spirit of our people in Kwara State. We should not be so worried about who the candidate is, but how we challenge whoever becomes the next governor.
“We must ensure that whoever emerges is accountable, responsive and responsible for the issues affecting our people,” he said.
He cautioned against concentrating political power around individuals, stressing that democratic governance requires continuous public scrutiny.
“Government is not about one person. One person cannot do whatever he wants and get away with it if the people do not allow it,” he said.
Sulaiman also challenged young people and women to become more involved in civic engagement by demanding better healthcare, quality education, improved infrastructure, employment opportunities and greater security.
“We need to wake up. People treat you the way you allow them to treat you, unless you change your stance,” he said.
Commenting on the controversy that followed the APC governorship primary in Kwara, Sulaiman said many of those criticising the process failed to object while it was underway and only raised concerns after the outcome did not favour them.
He argued that members of political parties were expected to respect their internal rules and leadership structures once they voluntarily participated in the process.
Sulaiman disclosed that he had known President Bola Tinubu since his tenure as governor of Lagos State and recalled a conversation in which the President emphasised the role of governors as leaders of their respective state party structures.
“According to him, in my visit to Tinubu, he made it clear to me that governors, as leaders of their respective states and party structures, were empowered to guide the process of selecting their successors.
“In Kwara State, the leader of the party is the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The president said governors had been given the consent to choose their successors,” he said.
He maintained that the responsibility for ensuring credibility and transparency in such exercises rested with all stakeholders, not only party leaders.
“The process was there for everybody to see. If you want to fault the process, that should have been done when it was ongoing,” he said.
Describing …-primary disagreements as “a contest after a winner has emerged,” Sulaiman nevertheless called for clearer institutional guidelines on how governors should influence succession within their parties to minimise future disputes.
“I wish there were laid-down rules and regulations on how governors should decide their successors so that it is clear to everybody,” he said.
He urged political actors to move beyond internal party disagreements and focus public debate on issues affecting the lives of ordinary residents, including insecurity, unemployment, education, healthcare and infrastructure.
“The debate should be about who is the most competent, who has demonstrated leadership and who has shown the capacity to tackle the biggest challenges facing Kwara State,” he added.
