APC Reverses Stance, Clears Mass of Aspirants

News Update

THE All Progressives Congress has cleared all 159 aspirants contesting for tickets to the Kwara State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections, in a revised screening results that overturn an earlier outcome which disqualified more than half of the contenders.

The earlier screening result, which was pasted at the APC secretariat in Ilorin, had indicated that 105 out of 158 aspirants were disqualified, leaving only 53 cleared to proceed in the race.

The document, titled “All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2027 General Election,” also showed that several serving lawmakers were among those declared “uncleared” by the party’s screening committee.

However, a newly signed document obtained by The Punch in Ilorin on Wednesday presents a contrasting outcome, clearing all aspirants and increasing the total number from 158 to 159 following the inclusion of the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

The revised list suggests a major reversal of the earlier disqualification exercise, which had triggered anxiety within the ruling party, especially among incumbents seeking re-election for second and third terms.

In the updated arrangement, the Speaker, who was not originally listed among those seeking re-election, was included among the cleared aspirants.

Danladi is also widely regarded as one of the leading political figures in the state, with reports indicating he had earlier been considered a governorship hopeful before political realignments within the party hierarchy.

He is said to have stepped back from that ambition following Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s endorsement of another aspirant, Yahaya Seriki, as his preferred successor in the 2027 governorship race.

Under the initial screening outcome, several high-profile lawmakers had been marked as disqualified.

Among those affected were Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu (Omupo Constituency), Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq (Share/Oke-Ode), Hon. Bamigboye Joseph (Oke-Ero), Hon. Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq (Isin), and Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga (Essa/Shawo/Igboidun).

Also listed among those initially not cleared was Hon. Issa Gideon of Edu Constituency, who is currently under suspension by the House over alleged misconduct and actions said to have brought the legislature into disrepute.

In contrast, lawmakers from Kwara Central were largely cleared in the earlier list, except Hon. Ayishat Tundun Alanamu (Alanamu/Ajikobi Constituency), while in Kwara North, serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area seeking re-election were also cleared in the initial exercise.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode (Oyun Constituency), was likewise among those earlier cleared.

Only two aspirants in the initial results were said not to have obtained nomination forms for re-election: the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu and Ganiyu Gabriel (Ekiti Constituency), who was reportedly pursuing a House of Representatives ticket for Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency.

The screening for the Kwara All Progressives Congress State House of Assembly aspirants was officially held on May 11, 2026.

Speaking before the commencement of the screening exercise, the chairman of the committee, Prof. Success Musa, said the high number of aspirants reflected the party’s growing acceptance in Kwara 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.”

The revised outcome, however, presents a stark contrast to that earlier position, suggesting that all aspirants, across the 24 constituencies in the state, have now been given clearance to proceed.

The development has heightened political discussions within APC structures across Kwara State, especially among stakeholders who had earlier reacted to the mass disqualification report.

The Kwara State House of Assembly consists of 24 members representing constituencies across the state’s 16 local government areas, with some councils having multiple constituencies due to population distribution.