KEY POINTS

• Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq removed his Principal Private Secretary, Oloyin Abdullateef, during a cabinet reshuffle affecting several political appointees.

• Abdullateef had recently warned against alleged plans to impose a preferred governorship successor, saying it would revive political godfatherism and undermine the ideals of the 2019 “O To Ge” movement.

• The Kwara State Government described the reshuffle as a routine political reorganisation, although the timing has sparked speculation over growing succession politics within the APC ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has removed his Principal Private Secretary (PPS), Oloyin Abdullateef, from office following a recent public statement in which the former aide warned against what he described as an attempt to revive political godfatherism ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The dismissal was announced as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle approved by the governor and communicated in a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood AbdulRafiu Agboola.

According to the government, the reshuffle affected several political appointees, including all Special Advisers, Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor.

The state government maintained that the exercise was a routine political reorganisation designed to create opportunities for more members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to participate in governance.

Governor AbdulRazaq thanked the affected officials for their contributions to the administration and wished them success in their future endeavours.

He also directed all appointees affected by the reshuffle to immediately hand over all government property in their possession to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

However, Abdullateef’s removal has generated political speculation, with many observers linking his dismissal to a statement he issued earlier this month criticising alleged efforts to influence the choice of the APC’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

In a political statement dated June 17, 2026, titled “2027 Kwara Governorship: The Danger of Building Another Political Dynasty in Kwara State,” Abdullateef warned that the APC risked abandoning the principles of the 2019 “O To Ge” political movement if it allowed any individual to impose a successor on the party.

He argued that the “O To Ge” movement represented Kwarans’ collective rejection of political godfatherism and was aimed at ending the dominance of any individual, family, or political structure over the state’s affairs.

According to him, any attempt to hand the governorship ticket to a candidate perceived as the governor’s preferred successor would undermine the democratic ideals that brought the current administration to power after the collapse of the long-standing Saraki political structure in 2019.

Abdullateef specifically referred to concerns surrounding the possible emergence of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, as the APC governorship candidate.

He said the issue was not about Danladi’s personality but about preserving democratic values and ensuring that Kwarans retain the freedom to choose their leaders without political imposition.

The former aide questioned whether a state that rejected political domination in 2019 should embrace another succession arrangement that could concentrate political influence within a single political structure.

He warned that any perception of a predetermined governorship candidate could trigger internal crises within the APC, discourage party supporters, weaken campaign efforts, and encourage defections by aggrieved members.

According to him, political imposition often results in internal sabotage, reduced voter enthusiasm, fragmented party structures, and low campaign morale.

Abdullateef also questioned Danladi’s political reach beyond legislative and party circles, arguing that the APC’s greatest political strength since 2019 has been its reputation as the party that ended political domination in Kwara State.

He further cautioned that dissatisfied APC members, opposition parties, youth groups, civil society organisations, and independent political actors could unite against the ruling party if stakeholders perceived the governorship selection process as unfair.

The former PPS urged the APC to adopt an open, transparent, and competitive process for selecting its governorship candidate, insisting that merit, fairness, democratic participation, and the will of party members should determine who emerges as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election.

While the state government has not officially linked Abdullateef’s removal to his political comments, the timing of the reshuffle has fuelled public debate over internal political developments within the Kwara APC as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.