The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has cleared all aspirants seeking tickets for the State House of Assembly ahead of the party’s primary election, a move the party said was aimed at reinforcing confidence in the credibility of its internal selection process.
The announcement, made by the APC state secretariat in Ilorin, effectively ends the screening phase for aspirants across the state’s assembly constituencies and sets the stage for intensified consultations and grassroots lobbying before the primaries.
In a statement issued on behalf of the party on Wednesday, the APC said every aspirant who presented for screening was successful and would now proceed to the next phase of the nomination process.
The development comes at a politically sensitive moment as parties across the country prepare for a fresh round of internal contests that have, in several states, already generated disputes over disqualification claims, allegations of imposition and accusations of bias by party officials.
Against that backdrop, the Kwara APC attempted to project stability and inclusiveness by announcing that no assembly aspirant was screened out of the race.
The party described the outcome as evidence of its commitment to a “smooth, transparent and credible exercise” in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement said, “This development affirms the Party’s commitment to conducting a smooth, transparent, and credible exercise.”
With the clearing of all contenders, the party may also be seeking to avoid the post-screening controversies that have unsettled APC primaries in some other states, where aggrieved aspirants have openly challenged screening decisions and threatened legal action.
Even though the Kwara APC did not disclose the total number of cleared aspirants or constituency-by-constituency details, it said aspirants were now free to intensify political engagements with delegates and party stakeholders ahead of the primaries.
The party also revealed that supporters and stakeholders had reacted positively to the outcome of the screening exercise, describing it as a step towards fairness and internal democracy.
Still, beyond the official assurances, the real test of the party’s neutrality is likely to emerge during the conduct of the primaries themselves, especially in constituencies where incumbents and newcomers may clash over delegate loyalty and local political structures.
The APC secretariat insisted it would remain neutral throughout the process and promised equal treatment for all aspirants.
The statement added, “The APC Kwara State Secretariat reiterates its neutrality and assures all aspirants of a level playing field.”
Political parties frequently make similar pledges during primary seasons, but disputes over delegate manipulation, endorsement politics, and influence from powerful blocs often surface once voting begins.
Perhaps mindful of those risks, the Kwara APC urged aspirants to avoid inflammatory conduct capable of deepening internal divisions within the party.
It called on contestants to place “the interest of the Party and Kwara State above personal ambition” and to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
The party further disclosed that security agencies and INEC had been notified to monitor the exercise, a move likely intended to strengthen confidence in the process and discourage disruptions during the primaries.
Delegates were also urged to vote responsibly and uphold what the party described as its progressive ideals.
The APC remains the dominant political force in Kwara State following its sweeping victories in recent election cycles, making its primaries particularly significant because, in many constituencies, the party’s ticket is often seen as a major advantage ahead of the general election.
As consultations intensify in the coming days, attention will likely shift from screening outcomes to the balance of influence among local party leaders, incumbents, grassroots structures, and emerging political interests seeking to reshape the composition of the next Kwara State House of Assembly.
For now, however, the absence of disqualifications has temporarily spared the party the kind of internal backlash that has trailed primary processes elsewhere in the country.
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