Coalition urges Christian leadership in Kwara State come 2027
A citizen coalition calling itself Kwara Inclusion Advocates (KIA) has appealed for greater political inclusion in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, urging stakeholders to consider electing a Christian governor to reflect the state’s diversity and foster unity.
Addressing a virtual media parley held in Lagos on Saturday, conveners Fola Adekeye and Tunji Adeyemi argued that long-standing political exclusion has bred distrust and vulnerability among some communities in the state.
They noted that KIA, which comprises Kwarans from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, including many in the diaspora, was motivated by rising concerns over insecurity in Nigeria and the growing international attention on the plight of states in the Middle Belt.
“Kwara is one of Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan and plural states,” the group stated. “Yet, this diversity has not been reflected in its political leadership configuration in recent years. This imbalance is not sustainable. Exclusion, especially when weaponised, creates fertile ground for insecurity.”
KIA also referenced a recent intervention by veteran politician and lawyer Iyiola Oyedepo, who warned that some political actors had exploited religious sentiments to retain power, a practice the group described as divisive and potentially destabilising.
However, the coalition was careful to emphasize that its call is not about favouring any candidate or political party. Rather, it frames the demand for a Christian governor as a matter of fairness, representation and recognition of Kwara’s plural identity. “This conversation is philosophical, not sectional,” they said.
As Nigeria remains under global scrutiny amid rising religious tensions and insecurity, particularly in the Middle Belt, KIA warned that Kwara must avoid practices that could be perceived as exclusionary politics. “A peaceful, diverse state like Kwara must not fall into the pattern of divisiveness destabilising neighbouring states,” the coalition said.
The group urged media organisations and journalists to highlight issues of inclusion, equitable representation, and responsible leadership as the state draws closer to the 2027 election.