The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has made a dramatic call for the declaration of a state of emergency and the immediate suspension of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The opposition party leveled these serious demands during a world press conference held on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Allegations of Government Sponsorship for Bandits
The party's action was triggered by a viral video showing arrested bandits in Auchi, Edo State. In the video, which has circulated widely on social media, the suspects claimed under interrogation that officials of the Kwara State government supplied them with AK-47 rifles and a government-crested operational vehicle for their criminal activities.
Addressing journalists at the party's secretariat in Ilorin, the state chairman, Hon. Isa Bawa Adamu, represented by the secretary, Comrade Kayode Abdullahi Alashe, described the situation as a grave national security concern. The PDP stated that the confession places a heavy burden of responsibility on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
PDP's Formal Demands and Justification
The party formally requested President Bola Tinubu to treat the Kwara situation as a matter of urgent national importance. Their demands are threefold:
- The declaration of a state of emergency in Kwara State.
- The suspension of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to allow for an independent investigation.
- That the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, should cease sharing sensitive security information with the governor, whom the PDP labeled a security risk.
The PDP argued that these steps are necessary in the interest of justice, morality, and public safety. They cited the recent brutal attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where more than 15 people were killed, including hunters, vigilantes, and a traditional leader, as evidence of the state's deteriorating security.
State Government's Firm Rebuttal
In a swift response, the Kwara State Government, through the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, issued a statement on the same Monday, categorically denying any involvement. The statement clarified that the state government did not and cannot give weapons to any individual, emphasizing that no state government has the legal authority to arm anyone with AK-47 rifles.
Regarding the operational vehicle, Olukoju explained that it was a security van given to vigilantes initially deployed in Ifelodun LGA. She noted that the vigilantes had since left, but the Local Government Authority had complained that its van was not returned. The commissioner urged enhanced inter-agency coordination and warned online media against biased reporting that could threaten public peace.
The PDP, however, remains insistent, asserting that in saner climes, a leader facing allegations of this magnitude would step aside to allow for a thorough and unhindered federal investigation into the confessions of the arrested criminals.
