This Nigerian APC State Screened 158 Aspirants for 24 House of Assembly Seats

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has screened 158 aspirants seeking to contest for the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly, with party leaders pledging a transparent and credible process.

Speaking during the commencement of the exercise on Monday, the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Prof. Success Musa, described the large number of aspirants as evidence of the party’s growing popularity, internal democracy, and effective leadership in the state.

According to Musa, the APC national leadership appointed the committee based on credibility and competence to ensure a thorough screening process for all aspirants.

He stressed that the exercise was necessary to prevent mistakes that could threaten the party’s electoral victory, citing the Bayelsa State experience where the APC lost its mandate following a Supreme Court ruling on qualification issues.

Musa assured aspirants that the process would be fair and seamless, while urging cooperation from all participants.

He also advised dissatisfied aspirants to channel complaints through the party’s appeal committee and support whoever eventually emerges as candidate.

“Not everyone can become the party’s candidate at the same time. APC is a large family, and we must continue to maintain peace within the party,” he said.

The Kwara APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, said the screening exercise was aimed at confirming that all aspirants met the requirements needed to contest the elections.

He noted that the party would not allow avoidable documentation errors to undermine its chances at the polls, adding that the screening appeal committee would begin sitting immediately after the exercise to address grievances.

Fagbemi reaffirmed the party’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and due process, stressing that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.

He further urged aspirants to remain orderly throughout the process, assuring them that every aspirant would be given fair consideration.

Some aspirants who spoke after the exercise commended the conduct of the screening.

The Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Magaji Oba Abdulkadir, praised the committee for what he described as an organised and seamless process.

Another aspirant, AbdulRasheed Akogun, said the screening exercise had been open and accessible to all party members interested in contesting under the APC platform.

A female aspirant, Fatimah Jiyah, also noted that about 30 per cent of the aspirants for House of Assembly seats were women, attributing the development to the gender inclusion policy of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration