The Kwara Alliance for Tinubu and Shettima (KATS) 2027 on Monday inaugurated its Kwara North Senatorial District Executive as part of efforts to reconcile aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and mobilise 1.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia, PhD, National Coordinator of the Alliance, who inaugurated the executives, explained that the initiative was aimed at strengthening the APC’s structures, fostering unity among party stakeholders and consolidating support for the re-election of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The inauguration, held at Munirat Arike Hotel, Bode Saadu, in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, attracted political leaders and stakeholders from Baruten, Kaiama, Moro, Edu and Patigi local government areas, which make up the Kwara North Senatorial District.
The event marked the completion of the Alliance’s senatorial-level organisational expansion across Kwara State, ahead of its proposed statewide launch in Ilorin.
Ajia, who is also a member of the Directorate of Humanitarian Affairs of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and Dan Amanan Fune Emirate of Yobe State, charged the newly inaugurated executives to consider their appointments a call to responsibility and immediate grassroots mobilisation.
He directed them to establish functional structures at the local government, ward, zonal and polling-unit levels, noting that the Alliance’s success would depend on its ability to translate political support into measurable electoral participation.
Setting an ambitious electoral target, Ajia challenged members of KATS across the state to mobilise at least 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
He observed that voter turnout in previous elections had not reflected the state’s electoral potential, urging political stakeholders to intensify community engagement and encourage eligible registered voters to participate in the electoral process.
Ajia explained that KATS emerged from consultations among critical political stakeholders across Kwara Central, South and North, with the objective of strengthening the APC, promoting reconciliation and addressing divisions arising from disagreements over party primaries.
According to him, the Alliance was established as a common platform for party members and stakeholders to pursue collective political interests, irrespective of their individual ambitions and grievances.
Acknowledging that some APC members remained dissatisfied with the outcomes of recent primaries, he urged them to accept the democratic process and avoid allowing internal disagreements to undermine the party’s electoral prospects.
He said the 2027 election offered an opportunity for APC members to consolidate their political relevance and collectively attract more development opportunities to Kwara State.
Reflecting on his political journey, Ajia maintained that his relationship with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had remained cordial despite differences in political aspirations and electoral contests.
He recalled consulting the governor before expressing interest in the Kwara Central senatorial seat but subsequently stepping down in deference to the party’s consensus arrangement.
Ajia also acknowledged the influence of former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, whom he described as his principal political leader, saying his political experience had strengthened his understanding of consultation, networking and leveraging political opportunities for development.
He urged APC stakeholders to place the collective interest of the party above personal ambitions, stressing that unity, reconciliation and effective coordination would be critical to the party’s performance in 2027.
The National Coordinator further encouraged the executives to identify vulnerable households in their communities that might qualify for Federal Government social intervention programmes, particularly the conditional cash transfer initiative.
He, however, stressed that the Alliance’s primary responsibility remained political mobilisation and the promotion of the APC’s electoral objectives.
Speaking on behalf of the local government structures, Mohammed Zainab, Baruten Coordinator, highlighted the geographical spread of communities in the area and the logistical challenges associated with reaching grassroots supporters.
She called for adequate transportation, communication facilities and mobilisation resources to sustain political engagement across the local government.
Similarly, Saidu Yusuf Sulaiman, Kaiama Coordinator, advocated stronger community-level coordination and sustained engagement with stakeholders, particularly youths and women.
He emphasised the need for regular meetings and effective communication to strengthen the Alliance’s presence across the area.
Salaudeen Taye Issa, Moro Coordinator, underscored the importance of establishing functional ward structures and maintaining regular contact with community stakeholders.
He pleaded for organisational support, capacity-building opportunities and clear communication channels between the state and local government leadership.
Usman Manko Idris, Edu Coordinator, identified grassroots sensitisation as critical to the Alliance’s success, particularly in communities where access to political information and engagement with political organisations remained challenging.
He urged the leadership to provide sustained logistical and organisational support for mobilisation and community outreach activities.
Also speaking, Umar Abubakar, Patigi Coordinator, called for inclusive mobilisation that would adequately accommodate traditional institutions, youth organisations, women groups and other community stakeholders.
He stressed the need for improved coordination and adequate resources to enable the local structures to function effectively.
The five local government coordinators pledged their commitment to the Alliance’s objectives, assuring the national and state leadership of their readiness to establish functional structures and intensify grassroots engagement.
Members of the newly inaugurated Kwara North Executive also expressed appreciation to the leadership for the confidence reposed in them, promising to commence immediate mobilisation, stakeholder consultations and the establishment of zonal, ward and polling-unit structures across the five local government areas.
They assured the leadership that the inauguration would translate into practical political activities rather than remain a ceremonial exercise, pledging regular engagement, effective coordination and measurable organisational progress.
The executives also promised to work with the state APC leadership and other structures of the Alliance to expand KATS’ presence across communities in Kwara North.
The inauguration follows the establishment of the Alliance’s structures in Kwara Central and Kwara South, positioning it for a statewide launch and broader mobilisation campaign in Ilorin.
The Alliance is seeking to build a coordinated political platform capable of reconciling aggrieved APC members, strengthening the party’s grassroots presence and securing substantial electoral support for Tinubu and Shettima ahead of the 2027 general election.
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