100 candidates jostle for nine National Assembly seats in Kwara
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
A total of 100 candidates have been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest for nine National Assembly seats in Kwara State in the 2027 general elections.
The candidates, according to the final list of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, comprise 35 senatorial candidates contesting for three seats and 65 House of Representatives candidates vying for six seats across the state’s federal constituencies.
A breakdown of the senatorial candidates shows that Kwara North and Kwara South have 11 candidates each, while Kwara Central has 13 candidates competing for the three senatorial seats. The candidates are drawn from 13 political parties: A, AA, ADP, APP, ADC, APC, APM, LP, NRM, NNDP, NDC, PDP and SDP.
Among the prominent senatorial contenders are incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC), and incumbent Senator Saliu Mustapha, who, according to the list, is contesting under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their candidacies are expected to draw attention to the contest for political control in the state.
The list also features seven female senatorial candidates. They are Temako Naomi, 47, of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Ibrahim Ramat, 36, of the Action Peoples Party (APP); and Owolabi Felicia, 38, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), all from Kwara North.
The other female candidates are Adesola Kehinde, 43, of the Action Alliance (AA); Abdulahi Risikat Motunrayo, 59, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Abdulkareem-Adisa Maryam Ayoola-Fadekemi, 56, of the Labour Party (LP), all from Kwara Central. Anifowose Grace, 47, of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is contesting from Kwara South.
In terms of age, Iyiola Oyedepo, 72, of the ADC, is the oldest among the senatorial candidates, while Ibrahim Ramat, 36, of the APP, is the youngest. The figures highlight the range of ages represented among those seeking election to the Senate in the state.
For the House of Representatives, 65 candidates from 12 political parties are contesting for six seats across the state’s federal constituencies. They include nine candidates in Baruten/Kaiama, 12 in Edu/Moro/Pategi, nine in Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke Ero, 12 in Ilorin East/Ilorin South, 11 in Ilorin West/Asa and 12 in Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun. Together, the contests account for the six House of Representatives seats and bring the total number of National Assembly seats being contested in Kwara State to nine.
