Kwara: Political Parties Clash Over Disrupted Empowerment Programme

The political landscape in Kwara State is heating up as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are embroiled in a war of words following the disruption of an empowerment programme. The event, organized by the Kwara Central APC Women Leader, Tawakalitu Agaka, widely known as Hajia Tawa, took place on Saturday at her family residence in Ilorin.

The programme, designed to provide support for women, youths, and widows, reportedly saw 200 beneficiaries receive cash assistance. However, reports indicate that the event was marred by an incident when a group, identified as alleged PDP supporters, arrived at the venue. They reportedly began chanting and verbally confronting Agaka and other APC members present. A video from the scene captured individuals shouting “ole” (thief), while another group retorted with “Sai Kayi” (you will succeed), prompting security personnel to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating into violence.

This confrontation has ignited a fierce exchange of accusations between the two dominant political factions in the state, with the 2027 general elections looming.

Speaking on Sunday, Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Communications, pointed fingers at supporters of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the PDP governorship candidate, Bolakale Kawu. He accused them of attempting to reintroduce political thuggery into Kwara. Abdullateef asserted that Agaka had committed no wrongdoing by organizing an empowerment initiative and mobilizing support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and other APC candidates. He questioned, “Are we just having different politicians from one house? What is the crime in that?”

The governor’s aide branded the incident as “a reintroduction of thuggery and hooliganism into our political system by Saraki and his followers who superintend a lawless society between 2003–2019.” Abdullateef maintained that the AbdulRazaq administration had successfully eradicated such practices from the state, ensuring residents could now freely support their preferred political parties without intimidation. He called on Kwarans to condemn this “anti-democratic behaviour” and reject the PDP in the upcoming 2027 elections, arguing it was in the state’s best interest.

In response, the PDP vehemently denied the accusations, countering that the APC-led government was trying to label politically aware residents as thugs simply because they expressed dissatisfaction with the empowerment programme. Olusegun Adewara, the Kwara PDP Publicity Secretary, told PUNCH Online on Monday that Abdullateef’s comments were indicative of the alleged frustration within Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration.

The opposition party criticized the government for describing residents as “thugs and hooligans” for protesting an empowerment scheme. The PDP stated, “The statement from Latif reveals a clear sign of the extreme frustration now gripping Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his juvenile cabinet.” The party clarified that the incident reflected the public’s discontent with the government, not an act of political thuggery. “The people who confronted the government team in Agaka were not thugs. They were concerned residents who have lived with the consequences of Ramoni’s failures in their community and have now found their voices,” the PDP declared.

The PDP also questioned the timing of the empowerment programme, alleging that the community had been neglected for years, only for politically motivated assistance to emerge just months before the 2027 elections. They stated, “They are simply asking why a government that has neglected them for seven years suddenly remembers them a few months to another election with women leader Greek gifts.” The party challenged the APC woman leader’s late attempt to introduce a “Dibo ko sebe” (vote and cook soup) style of politics into Agaka, asserting that residents have a right to reject politically calculated gestures and demand accountability from their leaders. “Agaka people are not thugs. They are citizens. They have a right to reject deception, a right to demand accountability, and a right to make it clear that seven years of failure cannot be erased with last-minute woman leader Greek gifts,” the PDP added, also demanding an apology from Governor AbdulRazaq for his aide’s remarks.

This incident unfolds as political activities in Kwara intensify, with both the APC and PDP strategically positioning themselves for a highly contested election in 2027. Despite the heated exchanges, security forces at the venue successfully prevented the confrontation from escalating into full-blown violence, allowing the empowerment programme to continue.