Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has been accused of offering African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Zakari Mohammed N100 million to withdraw from the 2027 governorship race in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi. The allegation came from an anonymous source familiar with the matter. The governor’s office has not responded to the claim.
According to the source, the alleged offer was aimed at preventing a split in votes across Baruten Local Government Area and Kwara North Senatorial District, where both Zakari and Danladi have strong political support. The source also claimed the governor had encouraged the ADC to field a candidate from Kwara Central, though there is no indication the party accepted the idea.
Zakari Mohammed denied the allegation, saying he had no discussion with the governor on the issue. He also insisted he would remain in the race regardless of any financial offer.
“We’ve not spoken. It is not true. Even if he offers N5 billion, I don’t want. Dem no dey fear me? I want to be Governor, that is it. And I’m not joking about it. By God’s grace Danladi cannot win Baruten.”
APC governorship candidate Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who currently serves as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, recently secured the party’s ticket for the 2027 election. Like Zakari, he is from Baruten Local Government Area.
Responding to the allegation, Kwara APC Chairman Sunday Fagbemi said he had no knowledge of any such move and did not believe the governor would make such an offer.
“I know nothing about that but I know the allegation cannot be true. The Governor I know cannot do that.”
National Pilot said it contacted the governor’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Agboola Moshood, by phone and WhatsApp for a response. As of the time the report was filed, no reply had been received from the spokesman or the Office of the Governor.
