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By Sola Rotimi
A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, known as The Otoge Progressives (TOP), has formed what it described as a “rainbow coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing supporters and members in Ilorin, former Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Dr Yahaya Oloriegbe, clarified that members of TOP remain within the APC, contrary to speculations that the group had left the ruling party.
Oloriegbe, however, criticised the Kwara State Government over what he described as a lack of transformative projects capable of stimulating economic growth and creating employment opportunities for young people in the state.
He said critical sectors, including agriculture, mining and human capital development, had not witnessed the structural transformation required to create sustainable jobs and improve the living standards of the people.
“There’s no human capital development…there’s no transformation in our agric system, no transformation in our mining, and as such, you see a lot of youth here…. Today, do we have anything that will give us job? The answer is no.”
The former senator maintained that the coalition was aimed at mobilising stakeholders and resetting the state’s development trajectory ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, said the group was focused on “resetting Kwara State” for the benefit of its people.
The Senator also accused the State government of preventing him from carrying out major constituency projects that would have been of immense benefit to the people.
Chairman of the TOP Elders Caucus, Mr. J. B. Ayeni, stressed that governance required collective responsibility, noting that government was not a personal enterprise where one individual could take decisions without the support and contributions of the people.
“Government is not a personal company where one person can take decisions alone. It takes collective effort, and a leader cannot act without the support of the people.”
Ayeni added that members of the group remained committed to their political activities within the APC, despite their alignment with efforts advocating administrative reforms in the state.
Stakeholders present at the gathering were Senators Salman Jawondo and Makanjuola Ajadi, as well as Mr Babajiya Kolo, Mr Saheed Popoola, Alhaji Abdulrahoof Labelade among others.
