Kwara State Announces Final Candidates for 2027 National Assembly Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections in Kwara State. This list includes notable figures like Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha, who will compete for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

Alongside them, Kolo Baba Jiya is listed as the candidate for Kwara North. The announcement comes amid controversies regarding the selection of candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The list features candidates from 13 political parties for Kwara Central, 11 for Kwara North, and 11 for Kwara South.

Senator Mustapha, who previously represented Kwara Central, recently switched from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP after losing the APC governorship primary. His move has sparked discussions about internal conflicts within the APC in Kwara State.

In a statement, Mustapha explained his reasons for leaving the APC, citing a departure from the party’s founding principles of unity and democracy. He emphasized that his decision to join the PDP was part of a broader coalition of political groups, not just a personal choice.

Meanwhile, Kolo Baba Jiya’s candidacy for Kwara North is facing a legal challenge from Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, who claims he was the rightful candidate after winning the PDP primary. Iliasu has taken his case to court, arguing that the substitution of his name with Baba Jiya’s was unlawful.

The final list includes a variety of candidates across all three senatorial districts, with the Kwara Central race particularly notable for featuring both the sitting governor and an incumbent senator from opposing parties. The situation in Kwara North remains uncertain due to the ongoing legal dispute over the PDP nomination.