Kwara Young Progressive Forum and Good Governance Initiative has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national and state levels to urgently revisit and reverse the ill-advised decision to rescind the endorsement of Nigerian foremost industrialist and entrepreneur, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, as the governorship candidate of the APC in Kwara State.
In a strongly worded statement issued by its Convener, Dr. Adams Abdulwahab Opeyemi, the group warned that the APC risks losing Kwara State to the opposition PDP in 2027 if this grave anomaly is not immediately corrected.
The group expressed deep dismay at the shabby treatment meted out to Ambassador Seriki, a competent, honest, and committed member of the party both in Kwara and at the national level. “It is unacceptable and counterproductive for a man of such integrity, who has sacrificed immensely for the progress of the APC, to be humiliated and discarded in this manner,” the statement read. “This kind of internal betrayal of loyal and capable party leaders only erodes confidence in the party and plays directly into the hands of the opposition.”
The Forum argued forcefully that in the face of the brewing political storm in Kwara, where the PDP and other opposition forces are gathering dangerous momentum, the most viable and formidable candidacy capable of weathering the tempest and securing victory for the APC is that of Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki.
A quintessential grassroots mobilizer with a proven track record of job creation not just for Kwarans but for Nigerians at large, Seriki stands head and shoulders above other contenders.
The statement highlighted Seriki’s pivotal role in leading the historic “O to Ge” movement that successfully ousted the Saraki political dynasty, a feat that redefined Kwara politics and opened the door for progressive governance.
“Ambassador Seriki embodies the genuine aspirations of the teeming young people of Kwara State. He is their voice, their hope, and their champion for a new Kwara that works for all,” Dr. Opeyemi declared.
The group further drew attention to Seriki’s impressive strides in the private sector, where his entrepreneurial ingenuity has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, alongside his passionate commitment to the ordinary people through various empowerment programmes. These initiatives have lifted thousands of Kwarans from abject poverty, providing skills, capital, and opportunities to the most vulnerable in society.
“While others talk, Seriki acts. His love for the masses is not rhetorical but demonstrable through tangible impacts that have transformed lives across the state,” the statement added.
The Kwara Young Progressive Forum and Good Governance Initiative therefore issued a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of the APC, and other critical stakeholders within the Kwara APC to immediately intervene and utilize the remaining narrow window before the formal submission of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct this dangerous anomaly.
“Restoring the people’s mandate in the person of Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki is not just the right thing to do, it is the only strategic decision that guarantees APC’s victory in Kwara in 2027. Failure to act decisively will amount to political suicide and hand over the state to the opposition on a platter of gold. The time to act is now!” the group warned.
Signed:
Dr. Adams Abdulwahab Opeyemi
Convener, Kwara Young Progressive Forum and Good Governance Initiative