The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State has screened 158 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the 24 seats in the state House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise, held on Monday, was conducted amid assurances from party leaders that the screening process would be transparent, fair and credible.
Speaking before the commencement of the exercise, Chairman of the Screening Committee, Prof. Success Musa, said the large number of aspirants reflected the growing popularity and internal democracy within the APC in Kwara State.
According to him, the party’s leadership and the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq have contributed significantly to the confidence many members now have in the party.
Musa noted that the committee was carefully selected based on credibility and charged with ensuring that only qualified aspirants emerge for the elections.
He also warned against errors capable of jeopardising the party’s chances at the polls, citing the Bayelsa governorship case where the APC lost victory following issues surrounding candidate qualification.
“We want to avoid mistakes that could cost the party its mandate. That is why every aspirant must go through proper screening,” he said.
The committee chairman assured aspirants that the process would be seamless and urged those with complaints to make use of the party’s appeal committee after the exercise.
He further appealed to aspirants to support whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate, stressing the need to maintain peace and unity within the APC family.
Also speaking, Kwara APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, said the screening was necessary to confirm that all aspirants met the constitutional and party requirements to contest the elections.
Fagbemi stated that the party would not allow avoidable documentation errors to affect its electoral fortunes.
According to him, an appeal committee has already been constituted to handle grievances arising from the screening exercise.
He reiterated the party’s commitment to fairness, transparency and due process throughout the primary process.
Some aspirants who participated in the exercise also commended the conduct of the screening.
Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Magaji Oba Abdulkadir, described the exercise as orderly and well coordinated, while another aspirant, AbdulRasheed Akogun, said the process was open and inclusive for all interested party members.
A female aspirant, Fatimah Jiyah, noted that increased female participation in the race was partly driven by the gender inclusion policy of the AbdulRazaq administration.
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