Kuso Pledges ₦2m Birthday Gift to Women, Rejects Pressure to Quit Chairmanship Race
2026 Ibarapa East chairmanship hopeful, Hon. Abdul Akeem Akintola Kuso, has vowed to remain in the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and pursue his chairmanship ambition to the end, even as he announced a ₦2 million birthday gift for women in the local government.
Kuso made the declarations during an open-field meeting at Islamic High School, Eruwa, attended by party members and supporters from Wards 1 to 10.
The meeting was held amid growing tension over the controversy surrounding the emergence of the APM chairmanship candidate, with members from the various wards previously registering their grievances over alleged attempts by some leaders to sideline Kuso as the consensus candidate.
Speaking at the gathering, Kuso said his decision to remain in APM was final, stressing that he would not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party in search of political advantage.
He said he was determined to secure the APM mandate and use the opportunity to change the fortunes of Ibarapa East, describing his ambition as a struggle to liberate the people from what he called “wicked and heartless self-imposed leaders.”
Kuso further narrated what transpired at an emergency meeting he attended in Ibadan following the previous Saturday’s meeting at the same venue.
According to him, virtually all the notable and relevant leaders in Ibarapa East attended the emergency meeting and attempted to persuade him to abandon his chairmanship ambition.
He alleged that the pressure included offers of gifts and alternative political positions, but said he rejected them outright.
Kuso disclosed that the meeting became heated at a point, leading to an altercation with one of the leaders, Wale Alase, whom he accused of using various means to frustrate his ambition and hijack his mandate.
He maintained that he stood his ground because he was determined to change the lives of more than 50,000 people in Ibarapa East.
He said he was not prepared to exchange the people’s mandate or his conscience for money, gifts or any political appointment other than the chairmanship of Ibarapa East.
The chairmanship hopeful also recounted his encounter with the Eleruwa of Eruwa, HRM Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, who, according to him, summoned him after receiving information that his supporters were preparing to stage a protest with placards during an upcoming ceremony.
Kuso said he immediately travelled to Eruwa to meet the monarch and explained that the allegation was completely false, describing it as a narrative allegedly fabricated by unscrupulous individuals.
He said the Eleruwa subsequently asked him what he wanted, and he responded that his demand remained simple: the chairmanship of Ibarapa East.
Meanwhile, leaders and supporters who spoke at the meeting reaffirmed their support for Kuso, declaring that “it is Kuso or nobody else” as far as the APM chairmanship ticket in Ibarapa East is concerned.
They called for an end to what they described as political domination by a few individuals and insisted that the people of Ibarapa East should be allowed to determine their own political future.
Kuso Announces ₦2m Birthday Gift
In another major highlight of the meeting, Kuso announced that he would give women in Ibarapa East ₦2 million to mark his forthcoming birthday on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
He disclosed that the money would be handed over to the leaders, who would be responsible for distributing it among the women.
The announcement triggered wild jubilation among the women present, with many reportedly expressing excitement and appreciation for the gesture.
The women also offered prayers for Kuso, asking God to bless him, grant him long life and good health, and make his political aspirations a reality.
The birthday pledge further added excitement to an already charged gathering, as supporters continued to express confidence in Kuso’s ambition.
Kuso, however, urged his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them that his political struggle would continue through legitimate democratic means.
He reiterated that he had no intention of leaving APM, insisting that his ultimate objective was to secure the chairmanship mandate and use it to bring what he described as meaningful change to Ibarapa East.
The meeting ended with renewed calls from supporters for the APM leadership to listen to the voices coming from the ten wards and respect the wishes of the grassroots.