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Politics in Nigeria has always been filled with surprises, hidden agendas, overnight alliances, and unexpected betrayals. But what recently happened in Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin, has once again reminded the people that in politics, loyalty can expire within hours and power remains the ultimate priority.
As Nigeria gradually prepares for the 2027 general elections, political parties across the country have already begun their internal strategies and primary processes in order to position strong candidates ahead of the battle for power. In Kwara State, attention was heavily focused on the APC, the ruling party both at the federal level and within the state.
With Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq nearing the end of his administration, the biggest question on everyone’s mind became: “Who will the governor support as his successor?”
For weeks, political discussions, street conversations, and stakeholder meetings all pointed in one direction — Yahya Seriki.
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The belief across Ilorin was that Yahya Seriki had become the chosen candidate of the governor. The news spread rapidly across communities, and immediately the atmosphere changed. Supporters celebrated openly, youth groups became energized, and many political followers believed the future had already been decided.
And honestly, the excitement was understandable.
Yahya Seriki is widely seen by many people as a grassroots politician, a man connected to the youths, and someone who understands the struggles of ordinary citizens. His popularity among young people made the endorsement look like a victory for the masses.
The city was alive with celebration.
But politics has a way of changing direction overnight.
The first sign that something was not right came when the primary election process was unexpectedly suspended on May 21st, 2026, and moved to the following day, May 22nd. That sudden postponement immediately created suspicion in the minds of many observers.
Political analysts began asking questions.
What changed overnight?
Who held the secret meetings?
What political interests suddenly entered the picture?
Was there pressure from powerful stakeholders behind the scenes?
Those questions remained unanswered.
Then came the biggest shock.
Within less than 72 hours, the political atmosphere completely changed. The same Yahya Seriki who was being celebrated as the governor’s preferred candidate suddenly appeared abandoned politically, while support reportedly shifted towards another aspirant — Danladi.
According to the primary election results:
Danladi — 94,990 votes
Yahya Seriki — 47,700 votes
Bashir Omolaja Abolarinwa — 22,118 votes
Now, the real issue is not necessarily who won the primary election because politics itself is a contest of interests, influence, and numbers. Every election must eventually produce a winner.
But what truly shocked the people was the speed of the political turnaround.
How does a candidate move from being publicly celebrated and politically projected to suddenly losing support within just 72 hours?
That is the question many people across Kwara State are still asking.
For many supporters, it felt like a carefully planned political drama. Some described it as betrayal. Others called it political survival. While some simply said, “This is Nigerian politics.”
Across Ilorin, conversations changed immediately. Markets, viewing centers, campuses, and political gatherings became filled with debates. Many residents openly admitted they never saw such a twist coming.
This situation also reveals an important reality about Nigerian politics — sometimes the people may have emotional attachments to candidates, but political decisions are often controlled by deeper forces invisible to the public eye.
Power negotiation. Political loyalty. Influence. Interests. Survival.
Those are the real engines behind many political decisions.
At the moment, disappointment can clearly be seen among many Yahya Seriki supporters. But politics moves quickly, and today’s setback can become tomorrow’s comeback.
The people will now wait patiently for the main elections next year to see whether this political calculation will eventually favor the APC or create new divisions within the party.
One thing is certain — the political story in Kwara State is far from over.
Politics in Nigeria remains one of the most unpredictable games ever played.
And sometimes, 72 hours is enough to completely change the destiny of an entire political movement.
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@tobywaltercares