The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Kwara State, Comrade Musa Tsaragi, has challenged his counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to an open public debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, declaring that anyone seeking to govern the state must be prepared to defend their ideas before the people.
Speaking during a radio programme in Ilorin on Monday, Tsaragi specifically invited the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, the PDP candidate, Mr. Bolakale Kawu, and the ADC flagbearer to engage in what he described as an issue-based contest of ideas centred on governance, security, economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and youth empowerment.
The AAC standard-bearer argued that the era of empty campaign slogans, political grandstanding and blind party loyalty should give way to intellectual engagement and public accountability, insisting that Kwarans deserve to hear directly from every candidate seeking their mandate.
According to him, a transparent public debate would allow voters to scrutinise the competence, vision and preparedness of all aspirants while comparing their policy proposals on the critical challenges confronting the state.
“The people of Kwara deserve to hear directly from everyone seeking to govern them. They deserve to compare our visions, our understanding of the challenges facing the state, and the practical solutions we intend to implement,” Tsaragi declared.
He maintained that elections should be won on the strength of ideas, practical programmes and workable solutions rather than political endorsements, personality cults, propaganda or financial influence.
Tsaragi further argued that democracy flourishes when those seeking public office willingly submit themselves to public scrutiny and defend both their records and their plans before the electorate.
He identified worsening insecurity, rising youth unemployment, declining educational standards, inadequate healthcare delivery, poor infrastructure, job creation, economic diversification and sustainable development as issues that should dominate the 2027 governorship campaign, stressing that Kwarans deserve concrete solutions rather than recycled political promises.
Expressing confidence in his own policy agenda, the AAC candidate said he was ready to engage any of his opponents at any venue and before any audience, insisting that leadership is earned through competence and vision—not political theatrics.
He warned that any candidate unwilling to participate in such a debate would be denying the electorate an opportunity to make informed choices based on capacity, credibility and character.
Tsaragi also called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, academic institutions and media organisations to jointly organise a credible and transparent governorship debate, where all major candidates would enjoy equal opportunity to present their manifestoes, defend their policies and answer questions from the public.
According to him, the future of Kwara State depends on the quality of leadership elected in 2027, making it imperative for voters to critically examine not only the promises of those seeking power but also their understanding of the state’s challenges and their ability to provide effective, accountable and transformational leadership.