Fresh political tension has erupted in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State as the three-man screening committee disqualified 105 aspirants seeking the party's ticket for the 2027 State House of Assembly election.
A total of 158 aspirants had appeared before the screening committee led by Professor Success Musa last Monday. The outcome of the exercise, posted at the party secretariat in Ilorin on Thursday, revealed that only 53 out of the 158 aspirants who obtained nomination forms were cleared to contest. Several incumbent lawmakers seeking second and third terms were tagged as uncleared.
The affected aspirants were listed in a document titled "All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2027 General Election," a development that has stirred anxiety among party loyalists and supporters across the state.
Kwara Central District
All aspirants from the Kwara Central District seeking re-election reportedly passed the exercise except the member representing Alanamu/Ajikobi Constituency, Hon. Ayishat Tundun Alanamu.
Kwara South Senatorial District
In Kwara South, the exercise dealt a major blow to several incumbent lawmakers. The two legislators from Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq of Share/Oke-Ode Constituency, were both screened out despite seeking another term. Also declared uncleared were Hon. Bamigboye Joseph, Hon. Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq, and Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, representing Oke-Ero, Isin, and Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively.
In contrast, lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, were successfully cleared by the panel.
Kwara North Senatorial District
In Kwara North, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area seeking re-election were also cleared to proceed. However, the member representing Edu Constituency, Hon. Issa Gideon, who is currently under suspension over alleged misconduct and actions said to have brought the Assembly into disrepute, was not cleared for a second-term bid.
Only the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and the member representing Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Gabriel, did not obtain nomination forms for re-election. Gabriel is believed to be pursuing the House of Representatives seat for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency.
Speaking before the commencement of the exercise, the chairman of the screening committee, Prof. Musa, described the large number of aspirants as evidence of the growing acceptance and popularity of the APC in Kwara State.
