The Nupe community in Ilorin Emirate has declared full support for the second term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governorship aspiration of Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.
The endorsement came on Sunday under the platform of the Nupe Progressives of Ilorin Emirate, after what the group described as “extensive consultations” and in recognition of the two leaders’ track record of performance and engagement with their community.
The event, held in Ilorin, attracted traditional title holders, Islamic clerics, youth leaders, women mobilisers, and other prominent figures from the Nupe community across the five LGAs of the Emirates.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the convener and Maiyaki ’N’ Nupe of Ilorin Emirate said the community had never enjoyed such recognition and inclusion in governance as they have under Senator Mustapha, while also commending President Tinubu’s efforts in stabilising the nation.
“In our more than 100 years within the Ilorin Emirate, no political leader has carried the Nupe people along like Senator Mustapha,” he stated. “At the national level, we believe President Tinubu has the courage and capacity to continue leading Nigeria on the path of progress. Both deserve our unshakable support in 2027.”
Youth mobiliser Comrade Abdulrauf Saheed (Na’aAllah) recalled that Senator Mustapha’s bond with the Nupe community strengthened during the 2023 elections when he made specific promises which he has since fulfilled.
“Our experience with Senator Mustapha is unique. He kept his word, and that matters,” Saheed said. “If one good turn deserves another, we will stand with him and with President Tinubu, regardless of political affiliation.”
The meeting also featured prayers for the success of both leaders in the 2027 polls, as speakers lauded Senator Mustapha’s empowerment initiatives and President Tinubu’s reforms.
Reacting to the development, Senator Mustapha’s aide, Abdulkareem Alabi, described the endorsement as a “profound vote of confidence” and urged the community to sustain unity and support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration.
Senator Mustapha, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, is serving his first term in the Senate. Though yet to officially announce his 2027 governorship bid, speculations about his candidacy have continued to grow.
