The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kwara State has moved to resolve its internal leadership dispute ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The move came on Monday as the party handed over its state secretariat in Ilorin to the AbdulGaniyu AbdulSalam-led executive and unveiled Elder Israel Ajayi Awolowo as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Prof. Abdulmumin Olayinka Ajia.
The internal dispute comes against the backdrop of broader disagreements within the NDC over the integration of new political blocs and the authority of the party's formal structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ajia, who unveiled Awolowo alongside the handover of the party's state secretariat in Ilorin, described his running mate as a retired Deputy Director in the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission and an educationist with decades of professional experience.
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He said Awolowo would bring his experience and understanding of the state's communities to the ticket, while also providing counsel in the running of the administration they hope to establish.
Ajia said the deputy governor would have clearly defined responsibilities, stressing that the office would be an active component of his proposed administration.
"Elder Awolowo will also have defined responsibilities in our administration. He will be a working partner in delivering the Forward Kwara Agenda, with clear duties and the authority to carry them out. There will be no room for redundancy when there is so much work to do for our state", he said.
On the internal disagreement over its leadership structure in Kwara, Ajia said the development should bring the leadership question in the state chapter to an end.
He called on members who had taken different positions during the disagreement to rally behind the AbdulSalam-led executive.
He urged members to resolve differences through the recognised organs of the party and make room for everyone willing to contribute to its activities.
According to him, the decision to hand over the secretariat had the support of Awolowo and other candidates across the state, including the Kwara Central senatorial candidate, Dr AbdulRasheed Suleiman Omoda, and the Kwara South senatorial candidate, Ambassador Samuel Omoniyi Oni.
Ajia said the priority should now be to strengthen the party's organisation and prevent internal disagreements from undermining its preparations for the 2027 election.
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He called on members at the ward and local government levels to cooperate with the state executive and support the party's candidates.
Awolowo, in his acceptance remarks, said his years in education and community service had taught him to listen, work with others and take responsibility for results.
The party chairman, AbdulSalam, said the state executive would serve members fairly, strengthen the party's organs and provide the necessary support for its candidates.
He urged members to bring their ideas and energy to rebuilding the party, while promising to uphold its processes and conduct the affairs of the executive in a manner that would justify the confidence of Kwarans.
