Bukola Saraki: The Kingmaker Reclaims the Chessboard

Bukola Saraki is once again a name Kwara residents follow closely, not as a declared candidate, but as a strategist whose next move could shape the state's political landscape. His background paints the reason for this interest. Saraki governed Kwara for two terms from 2003 to 2011, introducing the Shonga Farms project and establishing the Kwara State University and the International Aviation College.

In 2015, he engineered one of the boldest maneuvers in Nigerian politics, forming an alliance with the opposition PDP party to secure the Senate Presidency despite his own party's preferences. Serving as Senate President until 2019, his chamber approved the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act and the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, and published the Assembly's budget in full for the first time.

This era wasn't without controversy. Saraki battled a lengthy asset declaration case before the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor in 2018. The 2019 "O To Ge" movement then stripped him of his Senate seat and dismantled his political machinery in Kwara. For years, his influence in the state seemed diminished. However, recent events suggest otherwise.

Several APC members in Offa defected to the PDP, citing renewed faith in Saraki's leadership. This development has reignited discussions about whether his political network is awakening ahead of the 2027 elections. While Saraki no longer holds an elected position, his extensive experience across executive and legislative roles provides him with a comprehensive understanding of how power operates in Nigeria.

This insight, more than any current title, seems to be his most valuable asset now. Whether the Offa defections will lead to a broader shift remains unclear. Kwara's political scene has evolved since Saraki's dominant years, and the PDP will need more than his name to compete. Nevertheless, his re-emergence in political discussions signals that old networks in Kwara have not gone silent, and Saraki appears to be assessing how much of his former influence still holds sway.