The people of Ifelodun Local Government Area in Kwara State, operating as the Like Minds faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have endorsed Alhaji Saheed Popoola for the party's 2027 governorship ticket. In a statement issued on Monday, the group praised Popoola's leadership as immediate past chairman of the APC in Kwara Central Senatorial District, describing his tenure as impactful and unifying. They urged the national leadership of the APC to recognise his contributions when selecting candidates for the upcoming election. The appeal was signed by the group's chairman, Alhaji AbdulRazzaq Adewuyi, and its secretary, Alhaji AbdulRasaq Olawale.
The endorsement comes amid growing jostling within the APC over the 2027 gubernatorial race in Kwara. Popoola, a businessman and political strategist, has maintained a visible presence in party activities since stepping down as chairman. The Like Minds group emphasized his role in strengthening the party's grassroots structure and ensuring electoral success in the region. No other aspirant was mentioned in the statement.
Endorsing a former party chairman does not guarantee a governorship ticket, especially in a party where national headquarters often overrides local consensus. Alhaji Saheed Popoola may have the backing of Ifelodun's APC wing, but similar endorsements have not stopped the APC from imposing candidates in Kwara before. This move signals internal ambition, but its real impact depends on connections beyond Ifelodun. For now, it reflects more about intra-party dynamics than any shift in the 2027 calculus.
