As Kwara State prepares for another fiercely contested election, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has stirred fresh controversy with a reported ₦30 million cash largesse at a religious gathering in Ilorin, amid growing concerns that financial giveaways could become a defining feature of the ruling APC’s 2027 campaign.
The development, which some political commentators have described as the beginning of a “cash-and-carry” campaign, occurred on Friday at the weekly sermon organised by Ansarul Islam Society at Oke-Kere in Ilorin West Local Government Area.
The Governor attended the gathering alongside the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Hon. Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, in what observers viewed as an early public campaign appearance ahead of the 2027 elections.
During the gathering, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mallam Jidda AbdulRazaq, reportedly announced a cash largesse of ₦10,000 each for an estimated 3,000 attendees, amounting to ₦30 million.
The announcement came barely days after the Governor reportedly pledged a cumulative ₦180 million to the same Islamic organisation during its centenary anniversary celebrations earlier in the week.
The latest development has raised questions about the increasing deployment of cash incentives at public gatherings attended by political officeholders as the state approaches another election cycle.
Although the reported ₦30 million distribution was announced at a religious gathering, its timing and the presence of the APC governorship candidate have fuelled speculation about whether such financial gestures could become a major feature of the party’s campaign strategy.
Political observers have expressed concerns that the 2027 governorship contest in Kwara State could witness unprecedented monetisation, with cash inducements potentially overshadowing debates on governance, public accountability and the performance of elected officials.
