The Kwara Integrity Movement, KIM, has rejected ongoing calls to zone the 2027 governorship race to any senatorial district in the state, insisting that leadership should be based on merit and competence rather than birthplace.
Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, KIM Chairman, Alh. Ibrahim Oniwara, stressed that Kwara must rise above what he described as the limitations of primordial politics to embrace a system that prioritises capacity and character.
He stated that the clamour for zoning had raised critical questions that residents must confront with honesty and courage.
Oniwara challenged proponents of the zoning campaign to clarify whose interests they truly represent—those of the people or the ambitions of a select few.
He argued that leadership should not be treated as compensation or an automatic entitlement but earned through credibility, service and a clear vision for the state.
He dismissed the notion that Kwara had ever operated a zoning arrangement, explaining that the state’s democratic history reflects an open and competitive political atmosphere where aspirants from all senatorial districts freely contest.
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“We are not pushing entitlement politics or demanding exclusive rights for any zone. Our stand is simple and patriotic: Kwara deserves the best candidate, irrespective of senatorial district,” he said. He added that every qualified individual should be allowed to contest while voters decide who leads them.
The KIM chairman also expressed concern over what he described as the growing involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics.
He criticised the practice of revered Emirs and Obas travelling across the state for political lobbying, stressing that such engagements undermine the neutrality expected of traditional institutions.
He maintained that traditional rulers occupy a sacred position that must be insulated from political pressures for the sake of stability and respect.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that KIM comprises like-minded individuals drawn from the state’s three senatorial districts, united by a common interest in promoting good governance and fairness in leadership selection.
NAN
