Ahead of the 2015 governorship election in Kwara state, the aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have intensified campaign to clinch the party's ticket at the December 8 primary election. Sunday Trust, in this report, looks at the antecedents of the aspirants and their chances in the election.

One major challenge ahead of the PDP in Kwara state, lies in picking its governorship flag bearer among the 14 aspirants, who are eyeing the ticket.

The aspirants include the former chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem, the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore, the son of late Governor Mohammed Lawal, Alhaji Akeem Lawal, an industrialist and Chairman of Lubcon, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, the Director-General of PDP campaign in 2003, Arch. Abubakar Kale Belgore, who is a cousin to Dele Belgore and Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki, the daughter of late Dr Olusola Saraki.

Others are the current Senator representing Kwara South, Senator Simeon Ajibola, the former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, a one-time presidential candidate of the defunct National Transformation Party (NTP), Deacon John Dara, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, a petrochemical Engineer, Sunday Adebayo Babalola, a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ben Duntoye and a former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim.

Undoubtedly, there are contenders and pretenders among these aspirants. But all of them have been criss-crossing the state, running after the delegates, who form the electoral college for the primary election.

Dele Belgore

Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore is a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who came to the limelight of Kwara politics in the build-up to the 2011 election when he emerged the governorship candidate of the defunct ACN. Belgore of the famous Belgore family of Ilorin hails from Oke Ogun ward in Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state. He challenged the then ruling PDP candidate, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the 2011 election.

Having lost the case instituted at the tribunal and Appeal Court, Belgore was obviously warming up to take the shot again in 2015 when his party dissolved into the mega opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Though Belgore, according to his associates, was not averse to the merger, his only albatross was the infusion of the then new PDP led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje into the party, bringing former Governor Bukola Saraki and Ahmed into the APC.

This therefore prompted Belgore and others to join the PDP and berated the APC leadership for allegedly handing over the APC structure to "new entrants". Having run in the last election and garnered over 200, 000 votes, Belgore, no doubt, stands a better chance to clinch the ticket. But there are many odds against him as the original PDP members are reportedly challenging him.

Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem

A renowned Professor of English was Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin after serving for many years at Bayero University, Kano, where he rose through the academic rank to become a professor. Born on the 22nd of October, 1947 at Ajikobi ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, Professor Abdulraheem is known in the community as a great philanthropist who never hesitated to assist indigenes of Ilorin emirate and the state. Little wonder that he was given the traditional title of Talba of Ilorin. However, his tenure at University of Ilorin between 1997 and 2002 was characterised by controversies, following the sack of some lecturers of the University for participating in a nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Though the affected lecturers had been reinstated, Abdulraheem had consistently stressed that he has no regret with the action while some analysts believe the decision taken at that time has solidly put the university on the path of growth and development, having run an interrupted academic calendar for over a decade amidst the persistent strikes by ASUU.

Abdulraheem, the former Executive Chairman of FCC was a governorship aspirant of the party in 2011. But he could not secure the PDP ticket. He has, however, resuscitated his ambition as some beneficiaries of his benevolence and generosity held a fund raiser for him to purchase the PDP nomination form.

Though he has the requisite administrative experience to govern the state, some observers say age may not be on his side. Many also query the rationale for resigning at FCC where he just started his second term. But he sees the resignation as a sacrifice to make to satisfy his burning desire to replicate his numerous achievements in the public service in the governance of Kwara state. How far can he go in his bid to secure the PDP ticket? Only time will tell.

Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki

Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki popularly known as GRS is the first daughter of late strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki whose 2nd year's remembrance was held on Friday. She is one aspirant that cannot be pushed aside given her rich political history and her lineage. She was a member of the House of Representatives and two-term Senator of the federal Republic. Senator Saraki, who is a younger sister of former Governor Bukola Saraki, pitched tent with the PDP at a time her brother dumped the party for the APC. She was the governorship candidate of the defunct Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). Gbemi is taking another shot at the governorship election on the PDP platform. She is seen as the odd one out among the governorship aspirants being the only female aspirant in the race.

She is considered as a philanthropic per excellence and someone who believes that politics is about service to humanity. She took after her father, Dr. Olusola Saraki of blessed memory in the act of giving. She attended the University of Sussex in United Kingdom and earned a degree in Economics. She has assisted a lot of people. Presently, seven indegenes of Kwara state are at the Nigerian Law School to complete their legal education, courtesy of Senator Gbemisola Saraki. She has also set up a Foundation to take care of the indigent students, the aged and less privileged in Kwara state.

By the end of her public career at the Senate, Senator Gbemi Saraki had sponsored 13 Legislative Bills, making her one of the most active Senators in sponsoring bills that added quality values to our democracy. Also of note is the fact that her constituency, Kwara Central, had the highest numbers of constituency projects in Kwara courtesy of Senator Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki.

She is considered as the candidate to beat in the coming election. This is due to the point that her GRS Movement is said to have had great successes in producing 70 percent of the state party exco, including a great showing in the recent election of ward delegates of the party.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq

Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who also hails from Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, was the governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in the 2011 election. He joined the PDP because he said he could not remain in the same party with former Governor Saraki. Abdulrazaq, who is well known as a businessman, recently reopened his campaign office along Surulere road Ilorin.

Akeem Lawal

Akeem Lawal is the son of a late former Governor Mohammed Lawal, who presided over the state between 1999 and 2003. The junior Lawal had once declared his disinterestedness in politics. His sudden u-turn took many by surprise.

Architect Abubakar Kale Belgore

Kale Belgore, who also hails from Ilorin and Kwara Central Senatorial District, is a cousin to Dele Belgore and the Director-General of PDP campaign in 2003 when Saraki was elected the governor. Architect Belgore, who was Commissioner for Housing during Saraki's first tenure, said he had the political and administrative expertise to govern the state.

Senator Simeon Ajibola

Senator Ajibola is the only federal lawmaker in Kwara state who refused to defect to the APC. He has joined other PDP chieftains to reposition the party in the state. A three-time Senator, Ajibola who hails from Isapa in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, is one of the loyalists of late Olusola Saraki. Under the late Saraki, Ajibola occupied many political offices before moving to the National Assembly, where he is currently serving his third term. But he refused to go with the junior Saraki to the APC, saying that he could not serve the father and son.

Senator Mokanjuola Ajadi

Ajadi, who was Senator for six years and a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, hails from Babanloma in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state. He is said to be a well known grassroots politician. The former Economics lecturer at Kwara State Polytechnic was also the Commissioner for Finance in the state.

John Dara

John Dara, who hails from Ipe in Oyun Local Government, has been a chieftain of the party both at the state and national level since 1999. He was the leading aspirant in 2003 before the ticket was given to Saraki. He was the presidential candidate of the defunct NTP and a former Special Assistant to a former Defence Minister, General T.Y Danjuma. Dara, who is a delegate to the just concluded National Confab, undoubtedly understands the politics of Kwara state and has the requisite experience to lead the state.

Ben Duntoye

Duntoye, a one-time youth leader, was Commissioner for Information in the Saraki government. He was also a delegate to the conference. Though he recently declared his interest to contest, few people saw him as a serious contender.

Alhaji Bio Ibrahim

Ibrahim, who hails from Ilesha Baruba in Baruten Local Government, appears to be the only aspirant from Kwara north. He has occupied several positions in the state. He was a member of House of Representatives, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Minister of Sports and later Transport before he resigned in 2010 to contest the governorship election. Ibrahim lost out to the incumbent governor. He has also parted way with former Governor Saraki. He is relying on the sentiment that the governorship ticket should be zoned to the north in the spirit of fairness and equity.