Omar Bolaji Gambari has collected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 Kwara State election. He picked the forms at the PDP State Secretariat on Pipeline Road, Ilorin, on Thursday evening. Before the submission, Gambari arrived at General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, and proceeded to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to pay homage and inform the monarch of his political intention.
Gambari thanked God and acknowledged Abubakar Bukola Saraki for maintaining the PDP structure in Kwara. He said the party now offers a platform for aspirants, contrary to earlier doubts. "It is to the glory of Almighty Allah that I am standing before you today as an aspirant under the PDP," he said. He credited Saraki for fulfilling a promise made last year to provide a platform for ambition within the party.
Addressing the State Working Committee (SWC), Gambari affirmed his support for the party's consensus arrangement. "I was present in Abuja where we all signed and agreed to support the consensus arrangement. Whatever decision the party takes, I will follow," he stated. He dismissed rumours that he intended to contest a senatorial seat, confirming his focus remains on the governorship. "There were rumours that OBG was coming to pick a senatorial form, but today I have picked the governorship form," he declared.
Recalling the 2018 process, Gambari noted he stayed in the party despite not emerging as candidate. "In 2018, a consensus candidate emerged and I remained calm. I did not leave the party," he said. While pledging loyalty to party decisions, he expressed confidence in his ability to win the ticket. "I am also confident that when this ticket is given to OBG, we shall prosecute the election successfully," he added. He vowed to commit all his resources to reclaim power for the PDP in Kwara by 2027.
Omar Gambari insists he will abide by PDP's consensus arrangement while simultaneously expressing confidence that the ticket will be given to him. His 2018 loyalty is framed as proof of discipline, yet he now positions himself as the inevitable choice. If consensus means following the party's pick, then anticipating the ticket contradicts the commitment. For Kwara PDP members who signed the same agreement, OBG's confidence raises the question of what happens when consensus does not point to him.
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