Another prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Musliat Yetunde, has formally declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State. Positioning herself as a compassionate leader, she aims to build on the achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Her declaration makes her the second female aspirant in the APC, following Hon. Mahalia Aisha Ahman-Pategi, who declared on Sunday.
Formal Declaration in Ilorin
Speaking during her expression of interest on Monday in Ilorin, Yetunde, who hails from the Jebba area of Moro Local Government, promised to take the State of Harmony to a new phase of inclusive growth and development. The former civil servant stated that Kwara has all it takes to compete favourably with Lagos, Rivers, and Kano, asserting that she is the right person for the job.
A Call to Service
She described her aspiration as a call to service rooted in experience, empathy, and a strong commitment to sustaining the developmental strides recorded under the current administration. Yetunde praised Governor AbdulRazaq's impact across key sectors, noting that Kwara has witnessed remarkable transformation in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth development, and women inclusion.
The governorship hopeful emphasized that her decision was further inspired by the APC's commitment to women's participation in politics, particularly the 35 percent affirmative action, which she said has been visibly implemented in Kwara through strategic appointments by the current administration.
Policy Priorities
Education
Unveiling her policy direction, Yetunde outlined education as a top priority, pledging to expand access and improve funding across all levels to ensure no child is left behind.
Healthcare
In healthcare, she promised to introduce a comprehensive health insurance scheme and strengthen primary healthcare delivery to reduce maternal and child mortality.
Security
On security, she assured that if elected, her administration would enhance collaboration among security agencies while promoting community-based intelligence gathering to tackle emerging threats.
She also pledged to consolidate ongoing infrastructural development across all 16 local government areas of the state.
Youth and Women Empowerment
Highlighting youth and women empowerment as central to her agenda, Yetunde said: "We will create more opportunities through appointments and targeted programmes aimed at economic inclusion and capacity building."
Agriculture and Energy
She further identified agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, promising increased investment across the value chain to boost food production and ensure sustainability. In the area of energy, she proposed the deployment of alternative power sources, particularly solar energy, to support industrial expansion.
Water Supply
Addressing water supply challenges, the APC aspirant committed to investing heavily in water infrastructure, including the provision of boreholes and improved distribution systems to ensure access to clean water across communities.
Regional Balance and Women's Time
Yetunde, a Kwara Northerner, also made a strong case for regional balance, expressing confidence in her ability to fly the party's flag and succeed the incumbent governor. She called on party members, stakeholders, and particularly women across the state to rally behind her ambition, declaring that "this is women's time" in Kwara politics.
Her declaration adds a new dimension to the emerging political permutations ahead of the 2027 elections, as stakeholders begin to position themselves for what is expected to be a keenly contested race.
