Kwara North senator’s third term ambition suffers set back

Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar’s third term ambition has suffered a set back as a section of the senatorial district has kicked against his bid.

At a press conference in Ilorin on Tuesday, National President of Patigi Emirate Development Union, PEDU, Salihu Bologi Umar, expressed deep concern over reports indicating the intention of serving senator to seek re-election for the Kwara North Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group declared its position to include a “no to third term representation, respect for the established zoning tradition, Justice for Patigi local government area, two terms are sufficient and Patigi turn is now.

“Kwara North belongs to all its constituent communities equally, no individual or local government area should dominate the collective political destiny of the district at the expense of fairness, balance, and democratic justice, the group said.”

Bologi, urged all political actors, stakeholders, traditional institutions, youth groups and community leaders across Kwara North Senatorial District to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, dialogue and mutual respect in the overall interest of regional peace, political stability and democratic sustainability.

The group declared that “any attempt to deny Patigi Emirate its rightful opportunity to produce the next senator for Kwara North may compel many stakeholders and supporters within the Emirate to reconsider their political options and explore alternative democratic platforms capable of accommodating the legitimate aspirations of our people.

“This position is not intended as a threat, but as a sincere appeal for justice, inclusion and the preservation of political trust between the party and the people of Patigi Emirate.”

The national president, said, “for decades, the people and political stakeholders of Kwara North Senatorial District have sustained a respected and peaceful zoning understanding founded on the principles of justice, equity, inclusion and mutual political respect.”

Bologi, explained that the zoning arrangement, which allows for rotational representation among the constituent local government areas after every two terms or eight years, has remained instrumental in preserving political harmony, strengthening inter-community trust and promoting collective ownership of democratic representation within the senatorial district.

“It is on the basis of this long standing and widely acknowledged understanding that the people of Patigi local government area consider it both justifiable and appropriate that the 2027 Kwara North Senatorial District mandate be ceded to Patigi local government area,” the group added.