There is growing tension within the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State after no fewer than 105 aspirants seeking tickets for the State House of Assembly elections were reportedly screened out ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A document obtained at the party’s state secretariat on Thursday indicated that several serving lawmakers seeking second and third terms were among those declared “uncleared” by 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.”
According to reports, 158 aspirants purchased nomination forms to contest the State House of Assembly election under the APC, but only 53 were cleared to continue in the process.
In Kwara Central Senatorial District, all serving lawmakers seeking re-election reportedly secured clearance except Ayishat Tundun Alanamu, who was declared uncleared.
The outcome was reportedly more severe in parts of Kwara South, where several incumbent lawmakers failed to scale through the screening exercise.
Among those affected were Ganiyu Folabi Salahu and Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq, both from Ifelodun Local Government Area, who were seeking another term in office.
Other lawmakers screened out include Bamigboye Joseph, Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq and Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga.
However, lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including Deputy Speaker Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, were successfully cleared by the committee.
In Kwara North, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area seeking re-election also passed the screening process.
The member representing Edu Constituency, Issa Gideon, who is currently under suspension over alleged misconduct and actions said to have brought the House into disrepute, was also not cleared to contest for another term.
Meanwhile, only the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and Ganiyu Gabriel reportedly did not purchase nomination forms for re-election into the Assembly.
Danladi-Salihu is believed to be among the leading aspirants for the APC governorship ticket after participating in the party’s governorship screening in Abuja ahead of the primaries.
Ganiyu Gabriel, on the other hand, is said to have obtained nomination forms to contest for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
Speaking before the screening exercise commenced, chairman of the screening committee, Success Musa, said the large number of aspirants reflected the growing popularity of the APC in the 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 Kwara State House of Assembly currently consists of 24 lawmakers representing constituencies across the state’s 16 local government areas.
