Scores of worshippers and residents at the Ilorin Central Eid praying ground on Wednesday openly expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, during the Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Ilorin.The chants reportedly erupted as the governor’s convoy attempted to move through the large crowd gathered for the annual prayer session in the Kwara State capital.In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, sections of the crowd were heard chanting in Yoruba, “APC wọlé lọ bi awada bi ère,” loosely translated as “APC went down like a joke.” Others reportedly directed similar chants at the governor, saying, “Ramoni wọlé lọ bi awada bi ère,” meaning “AbdulRahman went down like a joke.”The incident has been described as a rare public display of political frustration at a major religious gathering in the state.
The development comes amid rising political tension and ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State.Reports indicate that the ruling APC has settled on the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi, a close ally and political protégé of Governor AbdulRazaq, as its preferred candidate for the next governorship race.Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is said to have chosen former Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Bolakale Kawu, as its candidate for the contest.Observers say the chants at the Eid ground may reflect growing public frustration over insecurity, economic hardship, governance concerns, and internal divisions within the ruling party.The incident also comes shortly after suspected bandits reportedly attacked Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to SaharaReporters, the attackers set the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducted several residents, including women, children, and someof the Emir’s wives.Residents said the heavily armed assailants stormed the border community late at night, firing sporadically before attacking the palace and surrounding homes. Sources added that local vigilantes were overpowered, forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.Eyewitnesses claimed the gunmen first targeted the Emir’s palace, setting parts of the building on fire before abducting multiple victims.
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