By Folayimika Akanbi
Uneasy calm has permeated various camps of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the clearance granted 53 aspirants on its platform to participate in the primaries for the 24 Kwara State House of Assembly’s seats in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
The cleared aspirants were among those who procured expression of interest and nomination forms of the party.
This medium reports that the screening committee of the party disqualified 105 aspirants, who also sought its tickets for the legislative seats, bringing the number of aspirants to 158.
The names of the affected aspirants were contained in a document titled, “All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2027 General Elections.”
It was learnt that the development has precipitated widespread anxiety within the camp of the ruling party.
The result of the exercise sighted at the state APC secretariat, Ilorin on Thursday showed that many serving lawmakers on the platform of the party seeking second and third terms fell among the disqualified aspirants.
In Kwara Central senatorial district for instance, all those seeking the tickets for the state House of Assembly were cleared except the member representing Ilorin North West Constituency, Ayishat Tundun Alanamu.
However, the situation was different in parts of Kwara South, where several incumbent lawmakers failed to secure clearance.
The two lawmakers from Ifelodun Local Government Area, Ganiyu Folabi Salahu, representing Omupo Constituency, and Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq of Share/Oke-Ode Constituency were screened out despite seeking another term.
The screening committee declared Bamigboye Joseph, Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq and Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, representing Oke-Ero, Isin and Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively uncleared in the result of the screening.
However, the committee cleared the lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode.
In Kwara North, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area, who sought re-election, scaled through the screening exercise successfully.
The lawmaker representing Edu Constituency, Yisa Gideon Saba, who is battling suspension over alleged misconduct and actions, said to have brought the legislature into disrepute, was also not cleared to contest for a second term.
It would be recalled that before the commencement of the screening in Ilorin, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Success Musa, said the high number of aspirants reflected the growing popularity and acceptance of the APC in the state.
He said, “I learnt we have 158 aspirants for the House of Assembly alone. That is democracy. That is what APC represents. It is the leadership shown by the chairman and our governor.”
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