Last week's statement from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State that there would be no automatic ticket for all its aspirants has heightened tension within the party ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Amidst agitation for a second term ticket for Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Kwara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came out with a shocker which incontrovertibly jotted many who have been campaigning vigorously for Ahmed's re-election.

In recent time, a pall of uncertainties pervaded the political landscape within the ruling APC as politicians, political analysts and observers conjure up sundry hypotheses over who flies the party's flag in next year's governorship election. Governor Ahmed has been the leading character to watch with many people wondering and pondering about his chances of securing the APC ticket to run for a second term.

Ahmed, who hails from Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara South senatorial district was commissioner for almost eight years under his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is the leader of APC in the state. He was elected on the platform of the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until October last year when he dumped the party in deference to Saraki. Unlike in many states of the federation, Saraki and Ahmed have maintained a godfather and godson relationship.

Ahmed could be aptly described as the most loyal godson going by the deep loyalty and respect for the political dynasty of late Olushola Saraki, strongman of Kwara politics and Second Republic Senate Leader, which is now controlled by Bukola as the scion of the dynasty. The governor must have no doubt disappointed pundits who had envisaged the scenario in other states where governors ditch predecessors in their bid to control party machineries.

At a APC stakeholders' meeting recently, the governor said: "We are very lucky as a family. This is a family that was built by our father of blessed memory. It is a structure that is going to out-live all of us. It is a structure that we have all benefited from and we must ensure that we sustain the structure. Those who have benefited and have decided to go out, we have people like that. These are people who believe in themselves alone.

"If it was a dictatorial system, it would have scattered a long time. It is because of the inclusiveness, that is why it is sustainable, that was the secret of Baba's system and that is what the leader (Bukola) is maintaining and we should all join him to work for the progress and development of Kwara State."

He added that there are two states in the country where this kind of structure exists stressing that it must be guarded jealously. "Yes, today, the structure is in APC but the structure requires your support, my support. It is a home-grown structure, by the grace of Allah (SWT), this structure we would make it bigger and bigger and better," he stated.

Apart from being loyal, the governor also made sure he completed all mega projects inherited from Saraki. These include the International Aviation College, Advanced Diagnostic Centre, among others.

But as the first tenure winds down, there is anxiety in the party over Ahmed's yet to be announced second term ambition. Can loyalty buy the big prize? This is a poser that appears puzzling to many watchers of the unfolding scenario in the state against the backdrop of a purported four-year pact upon which Ahmed secured the ticket in 2011.

However, there are fears that the second term agitation could destabilize the party as calls have mounted on the APC leadership to give the governor a second term ticket especially now that the dynasty has moved to APC. Many groups and associations have endorsed the governor for a second term and even pleaded with Saraki to allow him re-contest.

One of the first groups to endorse the governor was Youths Coalition from his senatorial district under the aegis of Kwara South Youth Consultative Forum belonging to APC. They cited loyalty and performance as their reason for endorsing him. Other groups which endorsed him for a second term include Kwara North Youth Consultative Forum, Ilorin Emirate Students'Union, National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kwara chapter, among others.

Investigations by Daily Trust correspondent revealed that Ahmed's kinsmen from Kwara South have been at the forefront of agitating for a second term ticket for the governor. The argument, according to sources, was that the zone should be allowed to complete its eight years in the saddle in the spirit of equity. But the state APC last week resolved that there would be no automatic ticket for all aspirants without exception.

Rising from an expanded State Executives Council (SEC) meeting presided over by its chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, the party urged aspirants seeking to contest elective positions in the 2015 general elections to declare their ambition without any further delay.

The statement signed by the party's Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari reads in part: "The APC reached the resolution that there is no automatic ticket for aspirants at all levels, without exception, in the 2015 general elections at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on Wednesday at the party's secretariat in Ilorin, Kwara State. We urge all aspirants seeking to contest elective positions in the 2015 general election to declare their political ambitions as the APC will soon kick off the process of direct primary elections for all aspirants in Kwara State.

"There will be level playing field for all aspirants. All aspirants would be subjected to transparent, fair and credible primary elections. The APC believes in internal democracy and the forthcoming primary elections will afford our party another opportunity to prove to Kwarans and Nigerians that our unity as a party is bond by internal democracy. The good people of Kwara State will be part of the entire process. Our party will present best brains that will continue to steer the ship of Kwara State in the path of sustainable peace and development."

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend on the issue of no automatic ticket Saraki explained that the decision is not strange as it also applies to him. The reason he said was to give everyone who has interest the opportunity to vie for the position.

"It is not strange. I think what they are saying is that anybody that has interest can aspire but you know aspiration also must be within reason. You have never been a councilor before and you now say you want to go to House of Representatives or you want to be governor. I think what they are saying is that you must have contributed to the community," he said.

This has no doubt blighted the chance of the governor securing the ticket if indeed he is interested in a second term. With the race obviously thrown open, other aspirants would in no distant time come out to declare their interests for the race especially people from Kwara Central who are agitating for the return of power to the zone.

Just last week, a group of youths under the auspices of Coalition of Kwara Youths in APC urged the party's leadership to give the governorship ticket to the Kwara Central to ensure victory of the party in the 2015 election.

Chairman of the group, Sunday Okanlawon said the ticket should be zoned to Kwara Central in the interest of the people and the party, noting that the zone is blessed with competent and reliable people that could make the party proud.

Analysts say the governor would have to be given a soft-landing in form of compensation with the senatorial ticket to pay him for his high fidelity and commitment to the Saraki's political dynasty if he is not given the party's ticket to run. But how fast they resolve the imminent crisis would go a long way in keeping the party together and brightening its chances of defeating the main opposition PDP in the state.