The Kwara Integrity Movement (KIM) has dismissed mounting calls for zoning the 2027 governorship seat, stressing that leadership should be anchored on competence and merit.

The group stated this position during a press conference held in Ilorin.

Hon. Oniwara Ibrahim Babatunde, the KIM Chairman, told journalists that zoning is an outdated, anti-democratic idea that stalls progress. He argued that prioritising birthplace over capability would derail the collective advancement of Kwara State.

He said it was time for Kwara to rise above primordial politics and embrace meritocracy. Babatunde reaffirmed KIM's commitment to good governance, fairness, transparency, and a leadership culture that genuinely prioritises development across the state.

The group questioned the motives behind the zoning campaign, asking whether proponents truly represent Kwara North or are driven by personal ambitions. They insisted that leadership is not an entitlement but must be earned through credibility, persuasion, and genuine service.

KIM also warned against increasing political pressure on traditional rulers, condemning attempts to drag respected monarchs into partisan lobbying. The movement described the trend as dangerous and harmful to the neutrality of royal institutions.

Reaffirming its stance, KIM stated that the 2027 governorship race must remain open and competitive, driven solely by competence. According to the group, merit must triumph over mediocrity to produce a governor for all Kwarans.

To counter zoning narratives, the movement highlighted Kwara's political history since 1999, noting that governorship contenders have consistently emerged from various districts evidence that zoning has never shaped the state's electoral culture.

KIM concluded by urging all qualified, credible and visionary citizens to freely contest in 2027, asserting that Kwara's future is too important to be confined to zoning politics or sectional considerations.