APC screens out over 105 aspirants

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.