From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
No fewer than 100 candidates have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to contest for the nine National Assembly seats in Kwara State in the 2027 general elections, setting the stage for keen political contests across the three senatorial districts and six federal constituencies.
The candidates, comprising 35 senatorial hopefuls and 65 House of Representatives aspirants, are drawn from different political parties seeking to win the confidence of voters ahead of the polls.
A final list of Senate and House of Representatives candidates signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and made available in Ilorin, showed that 35 candidates would battle for the three senatorial seats in the state.
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The Tribune gathered that Kwara North and Kwara South have 11 senatorial candidates each, while Kwara Central has the highest number, with 13 candidates.
The Kwara Central contest is expected to attract particular attention, with incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, contesting on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the incumbent senator representing the district, Saliu Mustapha, is seeking re-election under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The development sets up a contest involving two prominent political figures in the district as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Thirteen political parties are fielding candidates for the senatorial election. They are A, AA, ADP, APP, ADC, APC, APM, LP, NRM, NNDP, NDC, PDP and SDP.
Women are also featuring in the senatorial race, with seven female candidates listed across the three districts.
They include 47-year-old Temako Naomi of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), 36-year-old Ibrahim Ramat of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and 38-year-old Owolabi Felicia of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), all from Kwara North.
In Kwara Central, the female candidates are 43-year-old Adesola Kehinde of the Action Alliance (AA), 59-year-old Abdulahi Risikat Motunrayo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and 56-year-old Abdulkareem-Adisa Maryam Ayoola-Fadekemi of the Labour Party (LP).
The list also features 47-year-old Anifowose Grace of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who is contesting in Kwara South.
The age distribution of the candidates reflects a mix of experience and younger aspirants. At 72, Iyiola Oyedepo of the ADC is the oldest senatorial candidate, while Ibrahim Ramat of the APP, aged 36, is the youngest.
For the House of Representatives, 65 candidates from 12 political parties are contesting for the six available seats across the state’s federal constituencies.
The Baruten/Kaiama and Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke Ero constituencies have nine candidates each, while Edu/Moro/Pategi and Ilorin East/Ilorin South have 12 candidates apiece.
Similarly, 11 candidates are contesting in Ilorin West/Asa, while Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun has 12 candidates.
With 100 candidates in the race for nine legislative seats, the 2027 elections are expected to present voters in Kwara State with a broad range of political choices as candidates and their parties seek to secure representation at the National Assembly.
