APC Disqualifies 105 House of Assembly Candidates in Kwara State

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

About 105 House of Assembly aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have been disqualified from seeking the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

A total of 158 aspirants were screened last Tuesday in Ilorin by the national officers of the party.

THISDAY’s investigation revealed that the results of the screening exercise were posted at the APC secretariat in Ilorin.

Several serving lawmakers who were 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.”

Out of the 158 aspirants who received nomination forms for the state House of Assembly election on the APC platform, only 53 were cleared to proceed in the race.

All lawmakers from the Kwara Central senatorial district who sought re‑election were cleared, except the member representing the Alanamu/Ajikobi constituency, Hon. Ayishat Tundun Alanamu.

In Kwara South, several incumbent lawmakers failed to secure clearance.

The two lawmakers from Ifelodun Local Government Area—Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu, representing the Omupo constituency, and Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq, representing the Share/Oke‑Ode constituency—were screened out despite seeking another term.

Hon. Bamigboye Joseph, Hon. Omotosho Olakunle Rasa, and Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, representing the Oke‑Ero, Isi, and Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively, were also declared uncleared by the panel.

Lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, were cleared by the committee.

In Kwara North, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area who sought re‑election passed the screening exercise successfully.

Hon. Issa Gideon, the lawmaker representing the Edu constituency who is currently suspended by the Assembly over alleged misconduct that allegedly brought the legislature into disrepute, was not cleared to contest a second term.

Only the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi‑Sali, the member representing the Ekiti constituency, and Hon. Ganiyu Gabriel did not obtain nomination forms for re‑election into the Assembly.

Danladi‑Sali obtained a gubernatorial form last week and was screened by the party in Abuja ahead of the primaries, for which he is favoured to win the party ticket.

Gabriel, on the other hand, is said to have obtained a House of Representatives nomination form to contest the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke‑Ero federal constituency seat.

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

“I learned we have 158 aspirants for the House of Assembly alone. That is democracy. That is what APC represents. It is the kind of leadership shown by the chairman and our governor,” he said.

The development has triggered anxiety among some incumbent lawmakers and their supporters across the state, especially those seeking second and third‑term tickets in the ruling party.

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