No fewer than 158 aspirants have obtained nomination forms under the All Progressives Congress to contest the 24 seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly.

The national chairman of the Kwara State Assembly screening committee, Success Jubril Musa, disclosed this yesterday in Ilorin during the screening exercise at the party’s state secretariat.

Musa, who led the screening team from Abuja, assured aspirants of fairness and a level playing field throughout the process.

“We are selected based on our credibility,” he said. “You can see that even your chairman could not pronounce my name well.”

He stressed the need for fairness and equity to ensure that the most qualified candidates emerge.

According to him, the large number of aspirants reflects the strength of democracy in Kwara State.

“I am aware that 158 people bought forms for the state Assembly, that is a true democracy,” he said, while urging aspirants to ensure the authenticity of their documents.

Musa also warned against the submission of questionable credentials, citing the Bayelsa governorship case in which the Supreme Court nullified the election victory of the APC.

“We don’t want a replay of what happened in Bayelsa State where the Supreme Court nullified our governorship victory for the present Peoples Democratic Party governor,” he said.

He assured both new aspirants and serving lawmakers of fairness during the screening process.

“We will do this without fear and without disturbing anybody. We will treat you fairly alongside the serving lawmakers,” he added.

Musa commended the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining democracy in the country.