Akeem Lawal collapses political structure into Kwara APC
…Urges supporters not to return to opposition
By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
The son of former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal, and Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the last election, Alhaji Akeem Lawal, has declared support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Lawal, while declaring his political structure for the governor in Ilorin on Saturday, said the structure inherited from his late father had been collapsed into the APC to support AbdulRazaq and the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also criticised Senator Salihu Mustapha and other members who left the APC, saying they abandoned the party because of personal political ambitions rather than the interests of the party and its supporters.
Lawal expressed disappointment with those who left the party after failing to realise their political aspirations, urging them to be patient and respect decisions of the party leadership.
He said there was enough opportunity for everyone within the APC and advised his supporters against returning to the opposition.
“Those who left the party for personal ambition, and not the interest of the masses who have been supporting them and by extension the party, were fundamentally wrong and they’ll soon realise so.
“The party served them to become senator with the support of our people. Now that you can’t realise your political ambition, you now ditched the party. It’s fundamentally wrong,” he said.
Lawal said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained the leader of the APC at the national level, while AbdulRazaq was the leader of the party in Kwara State.
“Just like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our leader, so is Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq our leader in Kwara State, and there can’t be two leaders at a time.
“So, you obey the party leadership and wait for your own time when Almighty God says it’s your time,” he said.
He argued that members who opposed the governor were indirectly opposing Tinubu, regardless of the political statements they made.
“When you’re fighting with your governor, you’re also directly and indirectly fighting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no matter the kind of political statements you’re making,” Lawal said.
He noted that AbdulRazaq contested the governorship election three times before eventually becoming governor, urging politicians to remain patient and accept decisions of party leaders.
“When you’re patient, there’s more than enough to go round and they’ll soon know that they made a fatal mistake,” he said.
Lawal acknowledged that disagreements were inevitable in politics but said political differences should not compel members to abandon their party.
“Misunderstanding is inevitable in politics, but if we have the interest of the masses at heart, we will not quit the party when we don’t get what we want. Everybody should always wait for his time,” he said.
He added: “APC is where God is. We are not going back to opposition. Let opposition remain in the opposition for the next 20 years and beyond.”
Also speaking, the state APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections.
Fagbemi, who was represented by his deputy, Abdullahi Sanmari, said the post-primary crisis within the party would not affect its electoral fortunes in the state.
He urged aggrieved party members to return to the APC, saying the party remained open to reconciliation.
“Whosoever is not here today should know that APC is still in charge and, by the grace of God, APC will carry the day in 2027,” he said.
Fagbemi urged party members not to fight those who remained aggrieved, but to engage and persuade them to return.
“Please, don’t allow anybody to deceive you. Before the elections, some other aggrieved members will come back.
“Please, whosoever you think is still aggrieved, don’t fight them. Talk to them. It is possible some of them will still come back.
“They are our children. We are members of the same house. Don’t worry, by the grace of God, it is going to be victory for APC in Kwara State,” he said.
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