APC Suspends Chieftain Iliyasu Moro Indefinitely, Just 24 Hours After He Publicly Regretted Supporting Governor AbdulRazaq

Ilorin, Kwara State– The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has suspended one of its prominent chieftains, Alhaji Iliyasu Ibrahim Moro, barely 24 hours after he openly denounced his support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing the decision to back him as a “grave mistake” that has brought disappointment to the people of the state.

Iliyasu speaking during a live political program, Aríse la rí kà, on SBS 96.9 FM Ilorin on Monday, said he regretted standing behind AbdulRazaq’s candidacy in 2019.

According to him, had they foreseen the current realities of governance under the governor, the people who championed the famous O to ge struggle would have rejected him outright.

“The truth is bitter, but it must be told,” Iliyasu said during the broadcast. “The O to ge movement, which we all thought would usher in a new dawn, has failed miserably. The expectations of the people have been dashed, and the government has not lived up to the promises we fought for.”

His remarks, however, did not sit well with the APC leadership in his local government area.

In a swift reaction, a statement released on Tuesday by Jimoh Raji, Chairman of the APC in Oloru Ward of Moro Local Government, announced Iliyasu’s indefinite suspension from the party.

The statement read in part: “In accordance with the relevant provisions of our Party constitution on discipline and misconduct of various kinds, and after due consideration of all the anti-party, anti-government activities, and conduct on the part of Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim from Oloru Ward of Moro Local Government Area in the last one and half years, we the APC Stakeholders and Excos have decided to suspend Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim in definitely.

“We hope the State Exco will uphold and ratify the action.”

The suspension marks the latest sign of internal wrangling within the Kwara APC, a party that rose to power in 2019 after a historic grassroots movement swept away the dominance of the Saraki political dynasty.

The O to ge (Enough is Enough) campaign, which was widely embraced across the state, brought Governor AbdulRazaq and his allies to power with the promise of accountability, transparency, and people-oriented leadership.

However, nearly six years into his administration, cracks are beginning to show within the party, as some stakeholders accuse the governor of sidelining loyalists, neglecting internal consultations, and failing to deliver the expected dividends of democracy.

Iliyasu’s recent outburst is the most publicised criticism yet from within the ruling party, raising fresh questions about unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Afrika Eyes previously reported that a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and elder statesman, Hon. Alhaji Iliyasu Ibrahim Moro, has expressed regret over supporting Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s emergence in 2019, describing it as a costly mistake for the people of Kwara State.

Speaking on a live program, Aríse la rí kà, aired on SBS 96.9 FM Ilorin, Hon. Iliyasu said the “O to ge” movement that swept AbdulRazaq to power has turned into a disappointment.

According to him, had they foreseen the governor’s style of governance, they would have rejected his candidacy outright.

He said they are now regretting their decision, adding that the hunger ravaging the people is proof that the governor has failed woefully.

He noted that it is not just the governor — they all failed, as they were the ones who championed the O to ge struggle.

Hon. Iliyasu, father of former Commissioner for Works, Engineer Ilyasu (2019–2023), alleged that the governor consistently frustrated projects meant to benefit Kwarans.

He asked whether, instead of facilitating development, the governor had spearheaded efforts to block such projects. Is that not enough proof?

The APC elder also called for fairness and equity ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that Kwara North, particularly Moro Local Government, has been sidelined in the state’s political structure.

Hon. Iliyasu explained that four out of five local governments in the region enjoy the dividends of democracy.

However, whenever the Moro people contest, they are told they are Yoruba, from Ilorin, and belong to the Emirate. Despite this, their votes have always been decisive.

He further criticised the ongoing N33 billion Kwara Hotel rehabilitation, describing it as a conduit for siphoning public funds.

He argued, quoting a Yoruba proverb to stress his point, and said that if someone wanted to use all the land in the GRA to build a hotel, it wouldn’t cost as much as that.

According to him, discontent has reached a point where “no household in Kwara State wakes up without cursing the governor.”

When asked why the expectations of the people who championed the O to ge movement in Kwara State have not been met, since they are not the original people who are in charge of the state’s affairs.

He said, “You see, as we approach 2027, I am begging all Kwarans to please allow equity, fairness, and justice to prevail. Look at Kwara North, where we come from. We have five local government areas in the region.

“Meanwhile, four out of the five are enjoying the dividends of democracy as they wish. But whenever people from Moro Local Government come out to contest, they are told no — that we are of the Yoruba race, that we are from Ilorin, that we belong to the Emirate.

“We have tried our very best, and we are the ones who have always supported them. It is our votes they rely on, yet they never allow us to contest for vital positions.”

He stated, “What is happening to us in Kwara, and in Nigeria as a whole, is nothing but imposition. Just like what happened in 2019 with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—if we had known from the beginning that governance would turn out this way, none of us would have agreed; we would have rejected his candidature.

“But it has already happened, and now we regret voting for the wrong person as governor of the state. We can all see how hunger is ravaging the people.

When asked to assess Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, he said, “Someone said he was willing to do good things and bring projects for Kwarans. Instead of facilitating these projects, the governor was the one who spearheaded efforts to ensure they would not be carried out. Is that not enough proof?”

He further questioned the governor’s decision to scrap roads that already had asphalt on them.

The APC chieftain, while addressing the anchor of the program, cautioned him not to allow Kwarans to curse him, asking sarcastically whether it was the asphalt the anchor had eaten before leaving his house.

“No household in Kwara State wakes up in a day without raising curses on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”

Speaking on the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of Kwara Hotel, he argued that if someone wanted to use all the land in the GRA to build a hotel, it would not cost as much as N33 billion. Quoting a Yoruba adage, he described the project as a means of siphoning public funds.

He said the performance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has made all of them fail woefully.

“It is not only AbdulRahman who failed woefully; we all failed because we were the ones who championed the ‘O to ge’ struggle and brought him to power.”

Recalling the day of the election, he said that at about 3 a.m., he left the White House, where the governor was.

“I told him, ‘Your Excellency, by 6 p.m. today, by God’s grace, we will be calling you Your Excellency.’ That was on the morning before voting commenced,” he explained.

Speaking on the alleged mismanagement of palliative rice by the Kwara State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Illiasu alleged that Fagbemi diverted 10 bags of rice each from the 193 wards, despite the directive that 50 bags should be distributed per ward.