A political scientist and former senior lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Abubakar Lasiele, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) committed a significant political blunder by selecting governorship candidates from the same local government area in Kwara State. Speaking at the annual dinner and award ceremony organized by the Third Estate, a sociopolitical group, in Ilorin on Wednesday night, Lasiele described the situation as an "own goal" for both parties. He argued that the two candidates would inevitably split votes from their shared political base, leaving other strategically important districts relatively uncontested.
Shared Political Base Creates Vote Division
Lasiele emphasized the lack of political foresight in the parties' candidate selection. "I don't see any political sense in the APC and ADC picking their candidates from the same local government area. No matter how you look at it, it is already an own goal for them," he stated. Both Engr. Yakubu Danladi of the APC and Hon. Zakari Mohammed of the ADC hail from Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara North. According to Lasiele, this means they will naturally divide the votes originating from that region.
He noted that Zakari Mohammed might have a slight edge due to his previous political experience at the federal level. "Hon. Zakari particularly has an upper hand because he once represented the Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. So, he is not a stranger politically," Lasiele added. "Consequently, he will be sharing the same voting strength with his APC challenger across Kwara North."
Call for Candidate Independence
The political scientist urged parties to prioritize a candidate's independent electoral value rather than relying heavily on incumbency or godfatherism. "The critical question parties should ask before choosing candidates is this: without incumbency or godfather backing, can this candidate stand on his own and win an election?" he queried. "Any party whose candidate can independently tick that box already has a strong foundation. Party structure, funding, incumbency advantages, and godfather influence should only come afterwards."
Warning Against Politicizing Religious Spaces
Lasiele also criticized the growing politicization of Eid prayer grounds, cautioning politicians against turning religious gatherings into campaign platforms. "It is a desecration of the sanctity of the Eid ground for politicians to turn such spaces into campaign opportunities," he said. "I urge political stakeholders in the APC, PDP, and other parties to exercise restraint and respect the sacredness of the space."
