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By Sola Rotimi
The G15 group within the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kwara State has adopted The Oto ge Progressives, TOP as its new identity and reaffirmed its opposition to what it described as Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s “unpopular succession agenda.”
The new identity was unveiled at a world news conference addressed by former Senate Leader, Dr Yahaya Oloriegbe, and attended by a mammoth crowd among whom are party stakeholders, aspirants, youth and women groups, members of the Kwara Elders’ and other concerned APC members from across the state.
The re-branding, which followed a motion moved by the Senator representing Kwara North, Sadiq Umar and seconded by his counterpart in Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, also reaffirmed the stakeholders’ Vote of Confidence in President Tinubu and endorsed his re-election for a second term in office in 2027.
The group alleged that some of its members had been subjected to financial inducements, promises of appointments, threats, intimidation and blackmail aimed at forcing them to abandon the movement, stressing that such actions reflected weakness rather than genuine grassroots support.
“We are conscious of the difficulties confronting many of our supporters. We are aware of efforts to secure their allegiance through financial inducements, promises of political appointments and other personal advantages. We have also received disturbing accounts of threats, intimidation, blackmail, name-calling and undue pressure directed at those who refuse to abandon their convictions,” it stated.
TOP further accused Governor Abdulrazaq and his allies of attempting to impose candidates who were “neither known nor acceptable to their communities” as part of a broader plan to establish a new regime of political godfatherism in Kwara State.
“Individuals who are neither known nor acceptable to their communities are being imposed as candidates across the State as part of a wider scheme to entrench a regime of godfatherism, an oppressive political order that the people of Kwara have long rejected,” it said.
According to the coalition, the movement was not created to advance the ambition of any individual but to restore fairness, transparency and democratic participation in the APC.
While reaffirming support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu, it insists that future leaders of the state must emerge through a credible and transparent process.
Recalling the 2019 Otó gé political revolution that united Kwarans across political and social divides, TOP maintained that the movement belonged to the people rather than any individual.
The Oto ge Progressives urged supporters to remain peaceful and disciplined, and called on the national leadership of the APC to address the growing grievances within the party to avoid jeopardising its electoral fortunes in the state.
Notable members in attendance were Senator Saliu Mustapha; Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe; Senator Sodiq Umar; Senator Lola Ashiru; Mr. Dele Belgore, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki-Gambari (represented); Dr Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (represented); Mr. Bio Umar; Alhaji Tajudeen Abdulkadir Audu; Senator Makanjuola Ajadi; Senator Ahmed Ahmed and Senator Bisi Oyewo.
Also present were: Mr. Adamu Manko; Mr. Ahmed Ndakene; Captain Ahmad Mahmud; Mr James Kolo; Mr. Yinka Aluko; Mr. Tijani; Mr. Razak Owolabi; Mr. Jimoh Abdulrahman Alapata; Chief James Ayenioye; Alhaji Baba Olosasa; Alhaji Baba Adefalu; Alhaji Salman Jawondo, as well as the immediate past Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, and Alhaja Aishat Bolanle Ismail, popularly known as Iya-Lamule, Senior Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation to the Governor among others.
