The race for the Kwara State House of Assembly gathered momentum on Monday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) commenced the screening of aspirants seeking to contest the party’s 24 legislative tickets across the state.
A total of 158 aspirants are vying for the party’s tickets, setting the stage for intense political competition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Chairman of the screening committee, Prof. Success Jubril Musa, disclosed the figure during the exercise held at the APC secretariat in Ilorin.
He assured contestants that the process would be transparent and devoid of bias.
He said the committee members were selected on the basis of credibility and integrity.
Musa stressed that fairness would remain the guiding principle throughout the exercise.
‘We are here to ensure equity and justice. Everybody will be treated fairly, including serving lawmakers. Nobody should entertain fears of manipulation,’ he said.
He described the large number of aspirants as a healthy sign for democratic growth in Kwara State, noting that the level of participation reflected confidence in the APC and the electoral process.
‘For 158 people to obtain forms for only 24 seats shows democracy is alive and thriving in Kwara,’ he added.
The committee chairman, however, warned aspirants against presenting questionable credentials, saying the party could not afford avoidable legal complications after elections.
He recalled the political setback suffered by the APC in Bayelsa State following issues surrounding candidate documentation.
The official cautioned aspirants to ensure all submitted papers were authentic and accurate.
‘We do not want a repeat of situations where victories are lost because of documentation problems. Aspirants must be careful with the credentials they submit,’ he warned.
Musa also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership for what he described as sustained efforts at deepening democratic participation in the country.
In the same vein, the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, urged contestants to avoid discrepancies in their academic and personal records.
He insisted that the screening committee would not compromise standards.
According to him, the party leadership had directed that all aspirants be subjected to equal treatment during the exercise.
‘No one will be favoured. Every aspirant must present genuine and verifiable documents,’ Fagbemi stated.
The current House Leader who is also seeking re-election, Hon Oba Abdulkadir Magaji, praised the seamless process so far and urged those who didn’t scale through to demonstrate sportsmanship.
Another aspirant, Hon. Rukayat Shittu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the screening, describing the atmosphere as peaceful and orderly.
‘The process has been smooth and calm. Some aspirants have been screened while others are waiting for their turn, but there has been no issue or obstacle so far. We are satisfied with the way the party is handling the exercise,’ she said.