2027: Kwara Has Never Adopted Zoning, Says Oloriegbe

A former senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has stated that Kwara State has never adopted zoning in its electoral process, emphasizing that all regions have always had equal participation in elections.

Oloriegbe made this known on Wednesday while speaking on Beyond the Headlines, a programme on TVC News.

The former lawmaker, who recently declared his interest in the 2027 governorship race, argued that governance should be approached with merit rather than sentiment. According to him, leadership positions should be filled based on competence, not ethnic or religious considerations.

“Governance should be treated like a personal business where sentiment is not used in recruiting personnel, but rather who is best suited for the job, regardless of ethnicity or faith,” he said.

Speaking further, Oloriegbe noted that opposition parties are already looking towards Kwara Central to field their candidates, as most of their aspirants are from the region. He stressed that the ruling party must be strategic in its approach.

“The opposition is looking towards Kwara Central to pick their candidate. All their aspirants are from Central. As such, we (APC) have to be calculative in our dealings by ensuring we match them with the right candidate, and I represent that choice,” he added.

He also highlighted the voting pattern of the Ilorin Emirate, noting that the region has historically supported candidates from other parts of the state based on their competence and vision.

According to him, past governors such as Adamu Attah, Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, Shaba Lafiagi, and Abdulfatah Ahmed enjoyed support from Kwara Central despite being from other regions.

“We didn’t vote for them based on where they came from, but on what they had to offer the state,” Oloriegbe said.