Sadiq Umar Kwara North third term bid faces rejection as Patigi stakeholders insist on zoning fairness and demand rotation ahead of 2027 elections
Tension has emerged in Kwara North Senatorial District as Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar’s alleged bid for a third term in the National Assembly faces strong opposition from a section of stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday.
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Sadiq Umar Kwara North third term move controversy intensified after the National President of the Patigi Emirate Development Union (PEDU), Salihu Bologi Umar, publicly rejected any attempt to extend the senator’s tenure beyond the established zoning arrangement.
Speaking at a press conference, the group expressed concern over reports suggesting that the serving senator intends to seek re-election, describing such a move as a breach of long-standing political understanding within the district.
The stakeholders insisted that the existing zoning tradition in Kwara North allows for rotational representation among local government areas after two terms, which they said must be respected to preserve fairness and political balance.
They argued that Kwara North belongs collectively to all its communities and warned against any dominance by a single area at the expense of equity and democratic justice.
According to the group, the Sadiq Umar Kwara North third term bid undermines decades of political harmony built on mutual trust, inclusion and rotational representation.
They further called on traditional rulers, political leaders, youth groups and stakeholders across the district to uphold dialogue and fairness in managing political transitions.
While stressing that their position was not intended as a threat, the group maintained that continued exclusion of Patigi from producing the next senator could push stakeholders to reconsider their political alignment ahead of 2027.
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The development signals rising political tension within Kwara North as communities begin early manoeuvring ahead of the next general election cycle.
