By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have resumed their statewide “thank-you” tour, moving into the Kwara Central Senatorial District after concluding the southern zone.

The tour, which commenced in Afon, headquarters of Asa Local Government Area, on Saturday, also took the party’s candidates to Ilorin West Local Government Area.

The delegation, led by the party’s governorship candidate and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, was received in both local government areas by traditional rulers, government officials, religious leaders and party supporters.

Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Ilorin, Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Dr Usman Abubakar Atolagbe Jos, described the visit to Ilorin West as a demonstration of respect for the traditional institution.

He prayed for the success of the APC candidates at the polls.

“When we heard you were coming to Ilorin West, the Emir of Ilorin, under whom this local government is, mandated us to receive you,” Atolagbe said.

He added that the traditional title holders in Ilorin West had gathered in accordance with the Emir’s directive to receive the delegation.

He also prayed for the protection and electoral success of the candidates as well as the successful completion of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

In Asa, the District Head of Balah, Alhaji Kolapo Abdulkadir, led other district heads to receive the APC delegation.

He also prayed for the electoral success of Danladi and other candidates and pledged support for the party.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Danladi thanked the traditional rulers, religious leaders and party stakeholders for their support, expressing confidence that it would translate into victory for the APC.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration had made progress and deserved a second term for continuity.

“The President has done a lot and, by His grace, the second term is assured for continuity of progress and development,” Danladi said.

He said the purpose of the visit was to appreciate the people of Ilorin West for their support and reassure them of the party’s commitment to their interests.

“We are here to thank the people of Ilorin West. That is the purpose of coming here today. We are here to reassure you that, by His grace, as you stand for APC, we are going to win,” he said.

Danladi also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for what he described as his achievements in Ilorin West and Kwara State, assuring APC supporters that they would not regret supporting the party.

The member of the House of Representatives representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency and APC candidate for the constituency, Hon. Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya, expressed confidence that the party’s candidates would win the 2027 elections.

He said Kwarans would not want to return to what he described as the past.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and an indigene of Asa, Alhaji Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, said the AbdulRazaq administration could not have achieved its reported accomplishments without the support of the legislature.

Alakawa described Danladi as a grassroots politician with electoral value and commended him for supporting the governor through the legislature.

The Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, said Asa Local Government had benefited from various government programmes, particularly in education, roads, healthcare and social investment.

A party elder in Asa, Alhaji Issa Amasa, commended Danladi’s integrity, humility and competence, urging him to remain accessible to the people if elected.

Meanwhile, an aide to Senator Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe, Engr. Jimoh Ajani Olarenwaju, urged aggrieved party members to embrace peace and work for the success of the APC.

Olarenwaju said party members should demonstrate loyalty and commitment to the leadership and ideals of the party.

“I believe Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has performed exceedingly well,” he said.

He added: “Party politics is about dedication, commitment and absolute loyalty to the leadership of the party. That is what we believe an average politician should possess. In APC, we accept all our candidates as produced from the primaries.”

The delegation was accompanied by members of the state House of Assembly and party leaders.

In Ilorin West, the candidates were hosted by the Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; Chairman of Ilorin West LGA, Hon. AbdulRahman Ladan; Alhaji Mustapha Kobe; Dr Ghali Alaya; Hon. Bamidele Aluko; Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah; Alhaji Ibrahim Danmeigoro; Engr. AbdulRahman Giwa and various support groups.