Fresh political tension has erupted in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State as the three-man screening committee edged out 105 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the 2027 State House of Assembly election.

I58 aspirants had appeared before the Professor Success Musa-led team last Monday.

The outcome of the screening exercise, pasted at the party secretariat in Ilorin on Thursday, showed that only 53 out of the 158 aspirants who obtained nomination forms were cleared to contest the race, while several serving lawmakers seeking second and third terms were tagged “uncleared.”

The affected aspirants were listed in a document titled, “All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nomination of Candidates for the 2027 General Election,” a development that has stirred anxiety among party loyalists and supporters across the state.

All aspirants from the Kwara Central District seeking re-election, reportedly scaled through the exercise except the member representing Alanamu/Ajikobi Constituency, Hon. Ayishat Tundun Alanamu.

In Kwara South, however, the exercise dealt major blow to several incumbent lawmakers.

The two legislators from Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq of Share/Oke-Ode Constituency, were both screened out despite seeking another term in office.

Also declared uncleared were Hon. Bamigboye Joseph, Hon. Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq and Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, representing Oke-Ero, Isin and Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituencies respectively.

In contrast, lawmakers from Oyun Local Government Area, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, were successfully cleared by the panel.

In Kwara North Senatorial District, the two serving lawmakers from Moro Local Government Area seeking re-election were also cleared to proceed.

However, the member representing Edu Constituency, Hon. Issa Gideon, who is currently under suspension over alleged misconduct and actions said to have brought the Assembly into disrepute, was not cleared for a second-term bid.

Only the Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and the member representing Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Gabriel, did not obtain nomination forms for re-election into the Assembly.

Gabriel, meanwhile, is believed to be pursuing the House of Representatives seat for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency.

Speaking before the commencement of the exercise, chairman of the screening committee, Prof. Musa described the large number of aspirants as evidence of the growing acceptance and popularity of the APC in Kwara State.