The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections in Kwara State, listing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent Senator Saliu Mustapha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as contenders for the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

The list, published on INEC’s website on Saturday, also features Kolo Baba Jiya as the PDP candidate for Kwara North, despite a pending legal challenge to his emergence as the opposition party’s candidate.

According to the commission’s publication, 13 political parties are fielding candidates for the Kwara Central senatorial district, while Kwara North and Kwara South each have 11 candidates.

The publication comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly Mustapha’s defection from the APC to the PDP and the dispute over the opposition party’s senatorial nomination in Kwara North.

AbdulRazaq, Mustapha Set for Kwara Central Contest
In Kwara Central, INEC listed AbdulRazaq as the APC candidate and Mustapha as the PDP flagbearer, setting up a contest between the incumbent governor and the senator currently representing the district.

AbdulRazaq is seeking a seat in the Senate as his second term as governor approaches its end in 2027, while Mustapha is seeking to retain his position after leaving the APC.

Mustapha defected to the PDP in August following his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket, which was won by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.

The senator also failed to secure the APC senatorial ticket before subsequently obtaining the PDP nomination through a substitution process.

Explaining his departure from the ruling party, Mustapha accused the APC leadership in Kwara State of abandoning the principles of internal democracy and collective participation.

In his resignation letter, he said recent developments within the party had departed from the founding principles of unity and internal democracy upon which the APC was established.

Mustapha, however, insisted that his defection did not amount to abandoning President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the senator said his political movement was part of a broader coalition.

“I have not dumped President Tinubu. Like the Honourable Minister of FCT said, this Rainbow Coalition has extended to Kwara too,” he said.

He explained that the decision to adopt the PDP as his political platform was influenced by the coming together of several political groups, rather than his personal ambition alone.

“That is why it was deliberate to pick the PDP as our platform. It is not just Senator Saliu Mustapha. It is as a result of the coalition of the Otoge Progressives, the G15 and the Elder Caucus,” he said.

Mustapha also questioned the conduct of the APC governorship primary, particularly the process through which the results were collated and announced.

His allegations reflect his position on the party’s internal processes. INEC’s publication of his name confirms his listing as the PDP candidate for Kwara Central but does not constitute an independent determination of the allegations he made against the APC.

PDP Faces Legal Challenge Over Kwara North Ticket
In Kwara North, INEC listed Kolo Baba Jiya as the PDP candidate despite a legal challenge instituted by former Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu.

Iliasu approached the Federal High Court in Ilorin, claiming that he won the PDP senatorial primary conducted on May 20, 2026.

He also argued that INEC initially published his name as the party’s candidate on August 1 before Baba Jiya subsequently appeared on the list.

According to a report published by Ilorin.info on September 13, Iliasu is challenging the substitution of his name, insisting that the decision was unlawful.

The suit, marked FHC/IL/CS/136/2026, lists INEC, the PDP and Baba Jiya as respondents.

Iliasu is seeking a declaration that the substitution was invalid, recognition as the party’s validly nominated candidate and an order restraining INEC from recognising Baba Jiya.

The dispute centres on whether the PDP validly replaced Iliasu with Baba Jiya, particularly in view of the former commissioner’s claim that he neither withdrew from the race nor authorised the substitution.
However, the claims remain su

bject to judicial determination. The appearance of Baba Jiya’s name on INEC’s final list does not, by itself, resolve the dispute or establish the validity of the nomination in the face of the pending suit.

A further development was reported on September 30, when CK Media Affairs reported that the Federal High Court had authorised substituted service of court processes on Baba Jiya.

The order concerned the method of serving the relevant court documents and did not determine the substantive dispute over the PDP’s nomination.

The legal challenge therefore remains a significant issue surrounding the party’s preparations for the 2027 National Assembly elections in Kwara State.

Full List of Kwara Central Senatorial Candidates
INEC listed 13 candidates for the Kwara Central senatorial district.

They are:
AbdulRazaq AbdulRahaman — All Progressives Congress (APC)
Mustapha Saliu — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Musa Aliyu — Accord
Adesola Kehinde — Action Alliance (AA)
Gani Omolabi — Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Gbadesogun Olufemi Adeleke — African Peoples Party (APP).

Abdulahi Risikat Motunrayo — African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Anjorin John Temitayo — Action Peoples Movement (APM).

Abdulkarim-Adisa Maryam Ayoola-Fadekemi — Labour Party (LP)
Adepoju Adekunle — National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Lawal Abdulhakeem Toyin — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Suleiman Abdulrasheed Olufemi Omoda — National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Alh Salma Abdul Yakini — Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The district’s contest is expected to attract considerable political attention, with the sitting governor and incumbent senator seeking election on different party platforms.

Full List of Kwara North Senatorial Candidates
The commission listed 11 candidates for Kwara North.

They are:
Mahmud Umar Muhammad — All Progressives Congress (APC)
Jiya Kollo, also identified as Kolo Baba Jiya — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Saliu Muritala A. — Accord
Ibrahim Ejiko Mohammed — Action Alliance (AA).

Temako Naomi — Action Democratic Party (ADP).

Ibrahim Ramat — African Peoples Party (APP)
Bala Taoheed Usman — African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Owolabi Felicia — Action Peoples Movement (APM)

Abdulgafar Sulaiman — National Rescue Movement (NRM)

Tajudeen Abdullahi Mohammed — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Gana Thomas Audu — National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Baba Jiya’s inclusion on the list comes amid Iliasu’s legal challenge to the PDP’s decision to substitute his name, leaving the party’s

nomination dispute subject to the court process.

Full List of Kwara South Senatorial Candidates
INEC also listed 11 candidates for Kwara South.

They are:
Adewoye Olalekan — All Progressives Congress (APC)
Popoola Saheed — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Oyedepo Iyiola — African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Olarewaju Segun Oluwatoyin — African Peoples Party (APP)
Alabi Amos — Accord
Abdullahi Balogun — Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Ajayi Olayemi Bidemi — Action Peoples Movement (APM)
Abdulgafar Sulaiman — National Rescue Movement (NRM)
Omokanye Adedoyin Raymond — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Oni Samuel Omoniyi — National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Anifowoshe Grace — Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The list outlines the candidates nominated by the participating political parties for the three senatorial districts ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political Realignments Shape Kwara 2027 Race
The release of the final list provides a clearer picture of the candidates seeking to represent Kwara State in the Senate, while highlighting political divisions and nomination disputes within the state’s major parties.

In Kwara Central, the contest between AbdulRazaq and Mustapha brings together two prominent political figures who will compete under different party platforms.

Mustapha’s defection from the APC to the PDP also reflects the political realignments taking place ahead of the 2027 elections, following disagreements over the ruling party’s nomination process.

In Kwara North, the PDP faces a separate challenge as the dispute over Baba Jiya’s nomination proceeds through the courts.
The outcome of that case could have implications for the party’s representation in the senatorial race, depending on the court’s eventual determination.

For now, INEC’s published list identifies the candidates presented by the parties for the three districts, with the Kwara Central contest taking shape and the Kwara North nomination dispute remaining unresolved.

Youths in Cross River State have endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was announced on Friday during the official unveiling of a youth-based political support group, the Evidence Group, in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

The group, which seeks to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu, Otu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), also inaugurated its Ogoja working committee as part of efforts to strengthen its political structures ahead of the elections.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the group, Eyoma Bassey, said the organisation would embark on extensive mobilisation across university campuses, villages, wards and polling units throughout Cross River State.

Bassey charged members of the newly inaugurated committee to begin grassroots mobilisation immediately, stressing that all structures must receive approval from the group’s central leadership before they are publicly announced.

He described the Evidence Group as a youth-driven political support organisation established to rally support for the President, the governor and APC candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.

“The group is a youth based support group that rallies support for Mr President, our Governor and the APC candidates. With this initiative, we are going to different campuses, villages, wards and polling units to mobilize people to vote for the APC,” he said.

The Director-General said the group would also focus on communicating the achievements of the Tinubu and Otu administrations to residents as part of its mobilisation strategy.

According to him, the unveiling demonstrated the willingness of some Cross River youths to mobilise support for the APC-led administrations at the federal and state levels.

“This gathering demonstrates the readiness of Cross River youths to mobilise support for the APC-led administration at both the state and federal levels.

Therefore, we will remain proactive in selling the achievements of both President Tinubu and Governor Otu administrations to the people,” Bassey added.

He further urged young people across the state to unite and participate actively in governance, noting that youth inclusion remained important to democratic development.

Evidence Group Targets APC Victory in 2027
In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Evidence Group’s Ogoja chapter, Jude Fingha, said the chapter was prepared to work towards securing victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

Fingha disclosed that the group had adopted the slogan “5 over 5” as part of its campaign strategy to mobilise support for APC candidates at all levels in Cross River State.

He described the unveiling as a political development intended to rally support for the incumbent administrations, which he said had performed creditably.

The coordinator also called on youths to support the APC through peaceful political participation, urging them to shun violence and political intolerance.

“The entire purpose is to galvanise support once again and bring back the governor and others who are in line back to office by 2027,” he said.

The group did not provide specific details of its planned mobilisation activities or the number of youths expected to participate in its campaign.

Women Mobilisation Director Calls for Grassroots Support
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Women Mobilisation, Precious Bessong, urged women across Cross River State to take an active role in mobilising support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Bessong encouraged women to engage their families and communities in promoting the group’s message of continuity for the Tinubu and Otu administrations.

She said empowering women had wider benefits for families and the nation, stressing the importance of their participation in political mobilisation.

The unveiling of the Evidence Group and the inauguration of its Ogoja working committee mark the group’s stated efforts to establish grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the endorsement represents the position of the group and the participants involved in the event, rather than a measure of the political preferences of all youths in Cross River State.

The Sokoto State Police Command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have pledged to strengthen their collaboration to ensure adequate security and a peaceful electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commitment was made on Thursday when the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, paid a familiarisation visit to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Yusuf Garba, at the INEC office in Sokoto.

Shaffa said the visit was aimed at strengthening communication, improving coordination and deepening cooperation between the police and the electoral commission as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

He stressed that sustained collaboration between both institutions was essential to creating a safe and conducive environment for electoral activities.

“Sustained collaboration between the Police and the Electoral Commission is essential to ensuring a safe, peaceful and conducive environment for the conduct of electoral activities,” the police commissioner said.

Shaffa assured INEC of the command’s readiness to provide the necessary security support throughout the electoral process, in line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

He emphasised the importance of regular engagement and timely information-sharing among relevant stakeholders to address potential security concerns and safeguard the integrity of electoral activities.

According to him, particular attention would be given to protecting electoral personnel and materials and maintaining law and order before, during and after the elections.

“There is a need for continuous engagement and timely information-sharing among relevant stakeholders, particularly in the areas of election security, protection of electoral personnel and materials, and maintenance of law and order,” he said.

The police commissioner noted that effective coordination among security agencies and electoral officials would be important to supporting the smooth conduct of election-related activities across the state.

Responding, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Yusuf Garba, commended Shaffa for the visit and assured the police command of INEC’s willingness to maintain a close working relationship with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

Garba said the commission remained committed to supporting a peaceful and credible electoral process in Sokoto State.

Both institutions agreed to sustain consultations and proactive engagement as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

The Sokoto State Police Command also reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, impartiality and the protection of citizens, electoral officials and other stakeholders throughout the electoral process.

The renewed partnership comes as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, with security coordination expected to remain an important consideration in protecting electoral personnel, materials and the rights of voters.