The two major parties in Kwara State, the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are expected to fiercely contest the three Senate seats in the state. The contest in Kwara South Senatorial district is, however, expected to be the most fierce.

The Kwara political atmosphere is turbo-charged now. No thanks the many battles of aspirants on many fronts to clinch the three coveted senatorial seats of Kwara North, Kwara South and Kwara Central.

A host of aspirants are bent on stopping current occupants of the seats, namely: Senators Sha'Aba Lafiagi (Kwara North, APC); Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central, APC); and Simeon Ajibola (Kwara South, PDP).

Lafiaji and Saraki are former governors of the state while Ajibola is a two-term senator. The trio got elected on the platform of the PDP before the recent irreconcilable leadership crisis in the party under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led to the exit of Saraki and Lafiaji alongside nine other senators, five state governors and some members of the House of Representatives to the APC.

In Kwara, Senator Ajibola and two lawmakers in the state House of Assembly decided to remain in the PDP to the chagrin of APC leaders.

Thus, the battle for the senatorial seats and indeed other elective seats in the state is a straight one between the ruling APC and the leading opposition PDP.

To stop Ajibola in Kwara South, more aspirants have emerged on the platform of the APC while none has emerged in Kwara Central and Kwara North controlled by the APC. Besides, Saraki and Lafiaji are first-time senators, who are expected to be interested in re-contesting their seats. In the battle for Kwara South, Ifelodun local council has produced most of the aspirants because the zoning formula favours the area.

There are two federal constituencies and two dialects in the zone, namely, Offa and Oyun and Ekiti axes; and Ibolo and Igbonna dialects.

From the political history of the state, Irepodun local council has not produced any elective office holder whereas the present occupants of the House of Representatives and Senate are from Ekiti axis of Igbonna and Ibolo.

Furthermore, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed who is from Ifelodun council area is being pushed by his people for second term. If the push sails through then it may be difficult for Ifelodun to produce the senator. Based on these factors and political structures, Irepodun local government is in pole position to produce the next senator.

Senatorial aspirants from Irepodun include former Minister of State for women Affairs during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Princess Olufunke Adedoyin, Barrister A. Aderemi and Mr Aanu Ibiwoye. There is also an aspirant from Offa- Mr Kayode Adebiyi while the neighbouring Erinle town also produced an aspirant popularly known as Oluomo.

The PDP has one aspirant, Arc Lola Ashiru, who is from Offa.

Among those who have shown keen interest in the APC is Princess Funke Adedoyin, who is from Agbamu in Irepodun local council, Mr. Aanu Ibiwoye who is also from Irepodun and Arc. Lola Ashiru, a successful business man from Offa. While Adedoyin and Ibiwoye are plying their game on the platform of the APC, Ashiru is doing his on the platform of the PDP.

Much focus is on Adedoyin, given her antecedents and goodwill garnered over the years by her father in the provision of employment and infrastructure in Agbamu.

For the first time, a strong and popular female aspirant in the person of Princess Olufunke Adedoyin is traversing the Kwara south political space and she has a good chance of picking the APC ticket. She is the only female among the aspirants in APC and in PDP. Moreover, being a Christian may also an advantage.