Date: 2014-10-30

Ahead of the 2015 elections in Kwara State, the race for the House of Representatives ticket among Kwara Central aspirants has assumed a new dimension following scheming and intrigues that had reportedly trailed the development.

At the centre of it all is former Chief of Staff, AbdulGaniyu Cook Olododo, a Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and a member of the state House of Assembly, among others.

Issue of the senatorial district’s ticket has been the subject of high level intrigues following the recent decision of the party to alter the present arrangement.

Although, the present Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barr Razak Atunwa, from Asa Local Government, has spent only one term as speaker of the House, the party has allegedly resolved to draft in Hon Ali Ahmad from Ilorin East to replace Atunwa while the latter takes his position at the upper legislative chamber.

That decision, it was also gathered, will mean the recall of Hon Moshood Mustapha representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency from the House of Representatives.   

The Ilorin East/South ticket for the House of Representatives was traded in 2011 between Ahmad and Olododo, allegedly because the party wanted to balance the politics of region at the time.

However, following the new arrangement of the party, the feud may have been reignited as fresh move to stop Olododo from getting the house ticket has been uncovered.

According to a reliable source, who spoke with National Pilot on the matter, the politician allegedly sponsored the likes of some aspirants from Ilorin East and others from the senatorial district to collect intent forms to challenge Olododo to allegedly deny him the ticket.

“The moves were aimed at stopping Olododo at all cost to create the impression that he is not the sole candidate. The matter was brought to the attention of the leader yesterday (Tuesday),” the source added.

But in the case of Hon Mustapha, it was learnt that his second term bid at the upper house has also been opposed by the people of Magaji Ngeri ward.

They allegedly also came to complain to the leader, Senator Bukola Saraki at the meeting that it was also their turn to occupy the position since they have prominent candidates eminently qualified for the seat.

Moshood hails from Alanamu ward in Ilorin West local government.

He replaced Hon Nimota Obawankasi from Ibagun ward in Ilorin South.

“With the situation of things, the leader, Senator Bukola Saraki is really under pressure and not too sure of what to do”, the source further added.

Though, Atunwa might be favoured to get the leader’s nod, Mashood Mustapha has no intention to give up on the issue.

In a statement issued by his campaign organisation in Ilorin on Monday, Mustapha said he was still in the race.

“The statement noted that so far, the leadership of APC in the state had endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as the sole gubernatorial candidate of the party for the next year's general elections.

“This gesture”, it added, “has not been extended to any other aspirant in the fold of our great party, the statement clarified.

Signed by his Chief of staff, AbdulRasaq Solihu Abosioyoyan and Senior Legislative aide, the statement said “Mustapha is still very much in the House of Representatives race.

"We want to make it clear that MM has not been asked to step down for any aspirant or asked to settle for any other political appointment.

"We are trusting God that with the usual support of our leader, Dr Bukola Saraki and the good people of Asa and Ilorin West, MM will not only clinch the APC ticket but will go ahead to win the House of Representatives seat of the constituency.

"We appreciate the concern of the people of Ilorin West/Asa constituency, who daily throng our campaign office to seek clarification on this issue. We are assuring them that MM is still very much in the race", the statement added.