Politics

APC screens out over 105 aspirants

Published

1 week ago

May 14, 2026

More than 100 aspirants seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 Kwara State House of Assembly election have been screened out by the party following its screening exercise ahead of the general elections.

The outcome of the exercise, which was pasted at the APC secretariat in Ilorin, indicated that several serving lawmakers seeking second and third terms failed to secure clearance from the party’s screening committee.

The affected aspirants were listed in a document titled, “All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2027 General Election.”

Findings showed that out of the 158 aspirants who purchased nomination forms to contest the Kwara State House of Assembly election on the platform of the APC, only 53 were cleared to continue in the race.

Among lawmakers from the Kwara Central Senatorial District seeking re-election, all were reportedly cleared except the member representing Alanamu/Ajikobi Constituency, Ayishat Alanamu.

However, the situation was different in parts of Kwara South Senatorial District, where several incumbent lawmakers were screened out.

The lawmakers representing constituencies in Ifelodun Local Government Area — Ganiyu Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Owolabi Rasaq of Share/Oke-Ode Constituency — were among those declared uncleared despite seeking another term in office.

Also screened out were Bamigboye Joseph, Omotosho Rasaq and Yusuf Gbenga, representing Oke-Ero, Isin and Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively.

In contrast, lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ojo Oyebode, were cleared by the committee.

In Kwara North Senatorial District, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area seeking re-election reportedly scaled through the screening process successfully.

The lawmaker representing Edu Constituency, Issa Gideon, who is currently under suspension by the House over alleged misconduct and actions said to have brought the legislature into disrepute, was also not cleared to contest for a second term.

Only the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and the member representing Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Gabriel, did not purchase nomination forms for re-election into the Assembly.

Danladi-Salihu is considered one of the leading contenders for the APC governorship ticket after undergoing screening by the party in Abuja ahead of the primaries. He is widely believed to be among the favourites for the party’s governorship ticket.

Gabriel, on the other hand, is said to have obtained a nomination form to contest for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Speaking before the commencement of the screening exercise, the chairman of the committee, Success Musa, said the large number of aspirants reflected the growing popularity and acceptance of the APC in Kwara State.

“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,” he said.

The development has reportedly generated anxiety among some incumbent lawmakers and their supporters across the state, particularly those seeking second and third-term tickets under the ruling party.

The Kwara State House of Assembly currently comprises 24 members representing constituencies across the state’s 16 local government areas, with some councils having more than one constituency due to population distribution.

Related Topics:All Progressives Congress Featured Kwara State House of Assembly

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Politics

2027: Supporters to raise #.6 billion for opposition party

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

Supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso have commenced early negotiations aimed at forming what could emerge as a major opposition alliance ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

The talks are focused on producing a consensus presidential ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform, in a move supporters say is designed to strengthen opposition chances against the ruling party.

Obi and Kwankwaso were presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections under the platforms of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively, leading the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya political movements.

The proposed alliance was unveiled during the NDC Aspirants’ Summit held in Abuja, reflecting growing concerns among opposition figures and grassroots supporters that divided political interests could once again weaken efforts to unseat the ruling party in 2027.

Political observers say the development signals a strategic shift from the fragmented opposition politics that characterised the 2023 elections, where strong candidates split votes across regional and ideological lines.

Supporters within both the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements are now exploring the possibility of building a united front well ahead of the official campaign season.

Speaking at the summit, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, disclosed that supporters had already begun mobilising funds to purchase a joint presidential nomination form for Obi and Kwankwaso.

According to him, the target is to raise ₦60 million as both a symbolic and practical demonstration of grassroots commitment to the coalition project.

Tanko said the proposed alliance was in response to growing calls from Nigerians for a stronger opposition platform capable of addressing the country’s economic and governance challenges.

Although neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has formally declared interest in the 2027 presidential race, the growing collaboration between their supporters has already sparked discussions within political circles over possible power-sharing arrangements, regional considerations and the management of competing ambitions.

Representing Obi at the summit, former Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, urged politicians seeking office under the NDC platform to prioritise credibility and national interest above personal gain.

Ameh stated that many Nigerians were becoming increasingly disillusioned with politics driven by greed, defections and transactional alliances, warning that any coalition lacking clear principles would struggle to gain public trust.

He also criticised the rising trend of post-election defections by politicians, arguing that such actions undermine democratic accountability and betray voters who supported candidates based on party ideology and campaign promises.

Politics

Senator tackles APC leadership, governor over primary election

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

The senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, has declared that “the battle line has been drawn” between him and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, following his defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election.

Isah, one of the seven aspirants who contested for the APC senatorial ticket, alleged widespread irregularities during the exercise, accusing government agents of hijacking electoral materials meant for the primary election.

Speaking after the exercise, the senator said only two votes were recorded in his favour in his own ward, despite his presence there to participate in the process.

According to him, he arrived at his ward expecting to cast his vote but discovered that no electoral officer appeared at the venue. He added that similar incidents were reported in several wards across Kogi East Senatorial District.

The lawmaker said the absence of electoral officials and voting materials prevented many party members from taking part in the primary election in affected areas.

He alleged that the situation was deliberately orchestrated to frustrate his supporters and influence the outcome of the exercise.

Isah maintained that the projects he had executed across Kogi East would continue to strengthen the APC’s chances in the district, including support for the President during future elections.

The senator also expressed disappointment over what he described as unfair treatment from the party leadership and Governor Ododo despite his loyalty and contributions to the APC.

According to him, the governor allegedly turned against him over claims that he intended to challenge him in the future governorship election.

“Well, with the latest development, I will now contest for the governorship position against Governor Ododo when the time comes,” the senator said.

He called on the APC leadership to investigate the alleged hijacking of electoral materials and ensure fairness and transparency in the pa

rty’s electoral process.

Politics

Delta North APC stakeholders reject Okowa’s victory claim, back Ned Nwoko as winner

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

Stakeholders of the Delta North chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected what they described as a “self-declared victory” by former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in the party’s senatorial primary election.

The stakeholders insisted that available results from across the district showed that Ned Nwoko won the contest overwhelmingly.

In a statement issued in Asaba, the group accused Okowa of attempting to undermine established party procedures by allegedly announcing victory before the completion of the official collation process outlined by the APC National Organising Secretary.

According to the stakeholders, the party had already established a clear framework for the exercise, including ward collation, local government collation, designated constituency collation centres and final submission of results to the party’s national headquarters.

“The authority to declare results rests solely with the National Committee. What Okowa has done is a clear violation of party rules and an attempt to manipulate perception ahead of due process,” the statement read.

The group maintained that figures collated from several wards across Delta North indicated massive support for Nwoko, dismissing Okowa’s claim as “fiction sustained by propaganda.”

Among the results cited were Ward 7 in Ndokwa West, where Nwoko reportedly polled 1,281 votes against Okowa’s 26 votes, while in Ward 9, Abbi, also in Ndokwa West, Nwoko allegedly secured 1,505 votes against 420 votes for Okowa.

In Akumazi Ward 7, Nwoko was said to have scored 687 votes compared to Okowa’s five votes, while in Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje, Ika North East, the senator reportedly polled 415 votes against 13 votes for the former governor.

The stakeholders also listed several results from Ukwuani and Oshimili South local government areas, which they claimed showed a consistent pattern of dominance in favour of Nwoko.

“These figures are not isolated — they reflect a consistent and overwhelming pattern across the district. The people have spoken clearly in favour of Senator Ned Nwoko,” the statement added.

The stakeholders further alleged that the primary election was marred by violence and intimidation in some areas believed to be strongholds of support for Nwoko.

They cited incidents in Ward 9, Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area, where a party member identified as Igelige Chukunomnazu allegedly sustained injuries following attacks during the exercise.

According to the statement, supporters of Nwoko were allegedly intimidated, while vote counting processes were manipulated.

The group also alleged that an individual identified as Ernest was stabbed during the exercise in Ward 8, Aniocha North Local Government Area, adding that photographic and video evidence of the incident existed.

In Ward 3, Anishi Primary School, the stakeholders claimed that violence escalated to the point that the returning officer reportedly fled the venue for safety.

Describing the incidents as coordinated efforts to suppress voters, the stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to intervene and ensure that the final declaration reflected the actual outcome of the exercise.

“The integrity of the party is at stake. This is not just about a primary election — it is about whether internal democracy will be upheld or sacrificed to manipulation,” the statement said.

The group urged the party leadership to disregard what it described as “manufactured narratives” and formally affirm the outcome that reflected the will of party members across Delta North.