2027 Governorship: Geri Alimi Ambassadors canvass parties to Zone Ticket to Ilorin Emirate
Geri Alimi Ambassadors, has called for the next governor of Kwara State in 2027 to emerge from the Ilorin Emirate, citing demographic strength, economic centrality and the need for policy continuity.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders at NUJ press centre, Ilorin, Convener of the group, Mallam Bolaji Gobir, said his position was not intended to diminish the rights or aspirations of other parts of the state but to encourage stability, democratic maturity and sustained socio-economic growth.
Kwara State is divided into three senatorial districts—Central, North and South—with the Central District largely overlapping with the Ilorin Emirate axis. According to Gobir, the zone, which includes Asa, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Ilorin East and, in some classifications, Moro Local Government Area, hosts the state capital and remains the largest population centre in the state.
He noted that Ilorin metropolis alone accounts for a significant share of the state’s population and economic activities, serving as a hub for commerce, finance and public administration.
The concentration of banks, industries, educational institutions and service providers in the area, he argued, contributes substantially to the state’s internally generated revenue and overall economic dynamism.
Gobir further stressed the importance of consolidating ongoing development initiatives, including digital infrastructure projects such as the Ilorin Innovation Hub, ICT expansion programmes and urban renewal efforts designed to manage population growth and modernise the capital city.
“Democratic governance is not merely about rotation of process; it is about continuity of progress,” he said, warning that abrupt policy shifts could undermine long-term strategic frameworks that require institutional memory and steady executive leadership.
While acknowledging that all three senatorial districts possess capable leaders, Gobir maintained that democratic competition should prioritise merit, inclusiveness and competence. He argued that equity in governance should be balanced with performance and developmental impact rather than reduced solely to rotational considerations.
He added that the Ilorin Emirate’s cosmopolitan character and central location position it as a natural integrator of the state’s diverse cultural and economic interests.
Gobir disclosed that the Garin Alimi Ambassadors would support any political party that zones its 2027 governorship ticket to Ilorin Emirate, pledging to engage other districts in dialogue to promote unity and shared prosperity.
He urged political leaders and party stakeholders at both state and national levels to consider what he described as a “fact-based and development-driven” case for continuity.
“Our democracy thrives when debates are conducted in the spirit of mutual respect and when leadership is assessed not only by origin, but by what it brings to the service of the people,” Gobir said.
He concluded by calling for constructive engagement among all stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 governorship contest strengthens unity and deepens development across Kwara State.