The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has challenged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s assertion of leading an inclusive administration, accusing him of marginalising his cabinet and adopting an autocratic governance style.

In response to the governor's claims, the PDP argued that his actions reflect a lack of collaboration with appointed officials, pointing to recent decisions as evidence of unilateral decision-making.

Meanwhile, during the swearing-in ceremony for two new commissioners following a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, Governor AbdulRazaq underscored the significance of teamwork and collective effort in governance. He urged the newly appointed officials to work harmoniously with their colleagues to drive the state’s development agenda forward.

“In leadership, and especially in public service, the strength of any administration lies in the power of teamwork,” he said. “Be mindful that our mission is to collaborate, combining our strengths and ideas to leave Kwara far better than we met it. As is clear to everyone, our government has delivered substantial, measurable progress across various sectors, including public education, primary healthcare, infrastructure, and social protection.”

However, the PDP dismissed the governor’s statements, describing them as mere rhetoric that contradicts his actual governance style.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Olusegun Adewara, accused AbdulRazaq of running a “one-man government,” where commissioners serve only to fulfill constitutional requirements rather than actively participating in decision-making.

“Governor AbdulRazaq is running a solo government where he acts as the permanent secretary for all ministries. How can he speak of collaboration when his commissioners are mere figureheads?” Adewara said.

He further alleged that the governor had failed to hold regular State Executive Council meetings since assuming office in 2019.

“Between 2019 and now, how many SEC meetings have been held? The few that did take place were nothing but rubber-stamping sessions, where decisions made in the governor’s bedroom—often drafted and passed through WhatsApp messages—are sheepishly ratified. No commissioner in this administration can confidently say they have meaningful input in governance,” he added.

The PDP also challenged the governor’s claims of progress, arguing that his administration was disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Kwarans.

“Governor AbdulRazaq boasts of spending billions on various sectors, but he overlooks the incompetence of his cabinet, which has led to the mismanagement of substantial government funds,” Adewara said.

He cited the state’s poor performance in healthcare, despite claims of heavy investment.

“In the last budget presentation, the governor read out fabricated performance data to the House of Assembly, and neither the lawmakers nor his commissioners dared to correct him. It was only after the PDP raised objections that the government shamefully apologised.

“For instance, Kwara State reportedly spent over N9.2bn on healthcare between 2019 and 2023. Yet, in a 2023 report by Statisense, the Federal Government ranked Kwara as the third worst-performing state in primary healthcare. What does that say about the so-called progress?”

The opposition party also pointed to alleged corruption in the state’s energy sector, citing an unfulfilled contract for transformer supplies.

The PDP further criticised the administration’s handling of social investments, arguing that it had failed to alleviate poverty in the state.

“The governor claims to be spending huge sums on social programs, yet Kwara’s poverty rate has skyrocketed from 17% in 2019 to about 48% today. If his policies are effective, why are people suffering more?”