The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, has pledged to sustain and build on the achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq if elected in the 2027 governorship election.
Danladi-Salihu, who is also Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, said his seven years of legislative experience and understanding of the state’s development challenges had prepared him for the task of governing Kwara. He argued that the state needed continuity and further development rather than a return to what he described as its difficult past.
He made the remarks during the News Keg, an interactive programme organised by the Kwara State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where he discussed his political journey, legislative experience and plans for the state.
The APC candidate said his role as Speaker since 2019 had given him a broad understanding of governance, particularly through the Assembly’s budgetary and oversight responsibilities. He maintained that his experience would make it easier to sustain ongoing government programmes and improve on existing achievements.
Reflecting on his representation of Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency, Danladi-Salihu identified access to potable water, rural roads, healthcare, education and security as major challenges he had sought to address. He said he facilitated the provision of about 210 boreholes, alongside the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads.
He also cited a 33-kilometre road linking communities in his constituency, saying it had reduced travel difficulties for residents who previously spent several hours on journeys that should ordinarily take about 30 minutes during the rainy season. On healthcare, he said he facilitated interventions in 18 primary healthcare centres and supported improvements in general and cottage hospitals.
On security, particularly in Kwara North, the Speaker said he facilitated the training of 300 local security personnel to strengthen surveillance and intelligence gathering in vulnerable communities, especially border settlements in Baruten Local Government Area. He called for continued cooperation among security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and local authorities.
Outlining his priorities, Danladi-Salihu identified human capital development, agriculture, electricity and rural infrastructure as key areas of focus. He said better roads connecting farming communities to urban markets would reduce transportation costs, improve farmers’ earnings and help lower food prices. He also highlighted alternative electricity arrangements, including solar-powered systems in some rural communities, and the establishment of a Federal Science and Technical College in Kwara North.
Responding to calls by opposition figures to rescue the state, Danladi-Salihu questioned the need for such a campaign, arguing that Kwara should focus on sustaining its development efforts. He described AbdulRazaq as a leader who had laid a solid foundation, pledging to consolidate the administration’s achievements and ensure balanced development across the three senatorial districts.
“My brother has laid a good foundation for Kwara, and the next step is for us to build on that foundation. I am part and parcel of the foundation. It will therefore be easier for us to consolidate the gains already recorded,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the News Keg Committee, Ibrahim Alege, said the programme was established to shift political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections towards governance, accountability and development. He said candidates from different political parties would be given equal opportunities to present their policies and priorities to voters.
Alege listed security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, agriculture and economic development as key issues candidates would be expected to address. He stressed that the initiative was not intended to endorse any candidate or party but to promote informed electoral choices through constructive engagement.
Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Biola Azeez, commended Danladi-Salihu for accepting the invitation and reaffirmed the chapel’s commitment to engaging political stakeholders.
The event was attended by Danladi-Salihu’s running mate, Seun Ogunniyi; Ilorin West Local Government Chairman, Babatunde Ladan; Commissioner for Health, Aminah El-Imam; members of the APC campaign team and other stakeholders.
