Date: 2014-11-27

Key incumbent members of the Kwara State House of Assembly may not return following the All Progressives Congress, APC’s, screening exercise that was concluded yesterday in Ilorin, National Pilot can report.

The screening exercise, which started on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital, was held at the Government Chalet, Along Ahmadu Bello Way, in preparation for election of members into the state House of Assembly.

According to findings, the six-member committee was headed by the present Attorney-General of Edo State, Mr. Henry Idiahagbon.

Notable absentees from the screening exercise were members representing Ilorin East constituency and former Member of PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Hon Nimota Ibrahim and Hon Ahmad-Giwa Afolabi Elefo, from Afon.

The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Saheed Popoola, was also among those that were screened by the committee.

Popoola is expected to replace Tope Olayonu, who represents Ojomu/Balogun constituency, who according to report will contest Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency in the forthcoming polls.

Six APC members in the House of Assembly, however, got return tickets and were screened along with the other 22 aspirants.

The six returning members, which comprised three males and females, according to National Pilot’s investigation, are Hon Moshood Bakare from Omupo (Ifelodun), Hon Ebun Owolabi (Ekiti), Hon Hassan Oyeleke (Essa/Sawo/Igboidun), Offa; Barrister Kamaldeen Fagbemi (Oke-Ogun), Hajia Sikirat Anako (Odo-Ogun) both from Oyun Local Government and Hon Segilola AbdulKadir (Ilorin Central).

According to a party source, who craved anonymity, all aspirants and serving members that presented themselves for the exercise were screened.

“Nobody was disqualified by the committee on account of politics or any excuses. All aspirants that presented themselves were screened and given a clean bill of health to contest the election. Some were even asked to take a bow”, the source added.

Meanwhile, a member representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has also submitted his nomination form before the screening committee to contest the house of assembly seat.

Speaking to our reporter on the development, Ahmad, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, said he is ready to serve in any capacity his constituency approves for him.

He said, ““I always offer myself for service and any political office that my constituency believes I can serve them, I am ready.

“Serving as a lawmaker in the state or federal is irrelevant. I believe what I am doing now is an assignment and whatever assignment my constituency deems fit for me. I am ready for it.

“The thinking that one’s importance will be reduced by representing the constituency at the lower house can only arise if you are going there for some ulterior motives as against going there to serve. It doesn’t matter in what capacity I serve”, he added.