The Deputy Senate Leader of the 10th Senate, Senator (Arc.) Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The declaration ceremony, held on Thursday at Arca Santa Arena in Ilorin, attracted a large crowd of party leaders, stakeholders, supporters, and political associates who gathered to witness the senator’s official entry into the governorship race.
During his address, Senator Ashiru unveiled his governance blueprint titled “My Kwara Covenant: A Blueprint for Inclusive Governance, Shared Prosperity and Generational Renewal,” which he described as a solemn commitment to the people of Kwara State rather than a conventional political manifesto.
According to him, the blueprint is designed to strengthen governance delivery, expand economic opportunities, improve infrastructure, and address pressing security and development challenges across the state.
The lawmaker highlighted Kwara’s growing economic potential, citing the presence of major industrial investments such as Olam International’s cashew processing plant in Ogbondoroko, KAM Steel, Dangote Flour Mills, and Tuyil Pharmaceuticals as indicators of the state’s attractiveness to investors.
Ashiru also pointed to his legislative achievements at the National Assembly, stating that he has facilitated over ₦50 billion worth of constituency projects across Kwara South in the areas of infrastructure, education, healthcare, empowerment, and rural development.
He stressed, however, that effective state-level governance remains essential for converting available resources and opportunities into meaningful development outcomes for citizens.
“For Kwara to move from potential to prosperity, leadership must combine experience, readiness, and the capacity to deliver from day one,” he said.
The senator added that the My Kwara Covenant agenda remains a working document open to contributions from stakeholders, professionals, traditional institutions, and civil society groups to ensure inclusive policymaking and broad-based development.
He also expressed concern over the growing insecurity affecting rural communities, describing it as a major threat to agriculture, local economies, and livelihoods, while pledging to prioritise security if elected governor.
“I am not here to manage Kwara; I am here to serve it,” Ashiru declared.
In separate remarks, party stakeholders and supporters at the event commended the senator’s legislative performance and developmental interventions across the state, describing him as an experienced lawmaker with a proven track record in public service.
They noted that his years in the Senate have attracted visible federal projects and empowerment programmes to Kwara, particularly in infrastructure and education, while also enhancing the state’s influence in national policymaking.
Many attendees expressed confidence in his leadership capacity, citing his experience as Deputy Senate Leader and his understanding of governance and legislative processes at the national level.
The stakeholders further described his declaration as timely and called for unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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