Jostling for the governorship of the central Nigerian state of Kwara has started as no fewer than 500 PDP members from Kwara South Senatorial District on Monday announced their adoption of Prof. Shuaib Abdulraheem as a candidate in the 2015 general elections.

The party members from the seven local government areas of the district took the position at a meeting at the PDP Secretariat in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

The district comprises Irepodun, Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Offa and Oyun local gobvernment areas.

Abduraheem is the former Vice-chancellor of University of Ilorin and the current Chairman of the Federal Character Commission.

Spokesperson of the politicians, Mr Emmanuel Olawuyi, said Abdulraheem's antecedents and contributions to the socio-economic development of the state informed his adoption.

He said that although Abdulraheem had not officially declared his intention to contest, his experience as a seasoned administrator had provided the needed platform for him to govern the state successfully.

Olawuyi said, "We gathered today to pledge our resolution to give the necessary support to Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem to become the next governor of Kwara State come 2015.

"His adoption as our candidate stemmed from his unequal achievements as a seasoned administrator per excellence and somebody that knows where the shoe pinches, who is also resident among the masses.

"It is our belief that such matured personality with administrative experience is also needed to revive the rot being perpetrated since the creation of the state.

"This achievements had endeared him to us and we belief he is going to make the desired change the people of the state have been yearning for."

Alhaji Yahaya Akinmade, also PDP stalwart in the area, said the members had found Abdulraheem worthy of making the desired turn-around in the fortune of the state.

"Abdulraheem is not only the party leader in the state, but we found him worthy of possessing those qualities needed to turn around the state fortune to achieve the desire progress and development," he said.

Director-General of the Talba Support Group, Alhaji Abdulmumeen Katibi, a political pressure organisation in the state, thanked the politicians for aligning with the group's aims and objectives.

Katibi said he was overwhelmed with the large turn-out and support received from the politicians and promised to evolve an effective synergy to ensure the party's victory at the polls.

A special prayer was also offered for the party, leaders and the nation to overcome the socio-economic and security challenges.