The ruling All Progressives Congress in Kwara State is witnessing a surge of political activity ahead of the next elections, as aspirants across various positions collectively spend over N2.6 billion on nomination and expression of interest forms.
Reports indicate that about 16 governorship aspirants have entered the race, each paying roughly N50 million for nomination forms, while another 16 contenders are competing for senatorial seats with forms valued at around N20 million each.
For the House of Representatives, approximately 62 aspirants have purchased forms worth N10 million each, while 159 candidates are vying for seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly, each reportedly paying N6 million.
Altogether, the financial commitments reflect one of the highest levels of political participation under the APC in any Nigerian state ahead of the elections.
Observers, however, say the high number of aspirants may not necessarily reflect growing party strength but rather internal dissatisfaction and unresolved grievances within the party structure in the state.
Many stakeholders linked the surge to frustrations among supporters of the earlier “Otoge” political movement that helped bring APC to power in Kwara, but who now feel excluded from political appointments and decision-making processes.
Party insiders argue that weak internal coordination and perceived concentration of influence among a small group of leaders have encouraged widespread competition and a lack of consensus-building.
Some members also claim that the large number of aspirants is partly a form of protest against alleged imposition of preferred candidates ahead of the primaries.
The situation highlights growing political tension within the APC in Kwara State as internal divisions and ambitions intensify ahead of the election cycle.
