*Offa, Kwara State | April 13, 2026*
The race toward the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State gathered fresh momentum on Monday as Dr Muideen Olaniyi Azeez Salako intensified consultations with a high-level visit to the All Progressives Congress secretariat in Offa.
Dr Salako, a governorship aspirant and Global President of the Offa Descendants Union, was received by a large crowd of party faithful, ward executives, local government officials, and stakeholders at the party’s secretariat in Osunte. Political observers at the event described the turnout as a clear display of unity and an early signal of growing support for his ambition within the APC.
The Monday engagement forms part of Salako’s ongoing grassroots tour as he builds consensus ahead of the APC governorship primaries slated for later this year. According to party insiders, the Offa stop was strategic, given the town’s political weight and history of producing influential leaders in Kwara South.
Addressing the packed secretariat, Salako stressed the political significance of Offa in determining the direction of Kwara politics. He urged stakeholders to close ranks and ensure that only credible, competent aspirants from the town are projected for the state’s top job.
“My ambition is not a personal project,” Salako told the gathering. “It is a response to persistent calls from our people who believe Kwara deserves leadership that understands governance, development, and inclusion. I am offering myself to serve, with a focus on youth empowerment, support for women, and sustainable development across all 16 local government areas.”
The aspirant disclosed that his consultations began at the ward level weeks ago, noting that the Offa meeting was a formal interface with the party structure before his planned official declaration in Ilorin, the state capital.
In a move widely seen as reinforcing his commitment to the party, Salako donated one million naira to party members present at the meeting. He also pledged to fully equip the new APC secretariat in Offa to enhance administrative efficiency and political mobilisation.
He appealed for unity among party stakeholders, warning that division would only weaken Offa’s bargaining power at the primaries. “Early mobilisation and collective support for aspirants from this town are key,” he said. “If we are united, we cannot be ignored. If we are divided, we defeat ourselves before the contest begins.”
The Offa APC Chairman, Prince Kunle Adegboye, commended Salako for what he called “practical contributions” to strengthening the party. Adegboye revealed that Salako played a central role in the recent membership registration drive that saw Offa’s figures rise sharply.
“Before this exercise, Offa was 12th on the state membership ranking with about 14,000 registered members,” Adegboye said. “Today, because of the commitment of leaders like Dr Salako, we now have 48,000 registered members. Offa is now 4th in the entire state. That is the power of purposeful leadership.”
The chairman urged party members and Offa indigenes across Kwara to rally behind Salako’s aspiration, describing him as “a tested administrator with deep community roots and national contacts.”
The meeting drew several notable figures, underscoring the weight of the event. Among those present were Hon Alakija Majeed, Special Adviser on Land to the Offa Local Government Chairman; Engr Kunle Ahmed; Prince Popoola Musibaudeen; members of the Offa APC executive council; all ward chairmen in Offa LGA; women leaders; youth leaders; and a large turnout of grassroots supporters.
Party members who spoke with Veritas News Hub after the event said Salako’s message of competence and inclusion was resonating, especially among youths and women who form the bulk of voters. Many cited his tenure as Global President of Offa Descendants Union, during which he mobilised development projects and scholarships for indigenes, as proof of his capacity.
Dr Salako, a medical doctor, administrator, and community mobilizer, is positioning himself as a unifier with the experience to bridge Kwara’s diverse interests. His campaign is expected to focus heavily on economic revival, job creation, and strengthening local government administration.
With party primaries approaching, his team confirmed that consultations will move to Oyun, Ifelodun, and other Kwara South LGAs this month, before a statewide tour. The official declaration is expected in Ilorin before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“The task ahead is huge, but Offa is ready, and Kwara is ready,” Salako declared to loud cheers. “2027 is about capacity, not sentiment. I am ready to serve.”
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