As the electorate set to elect the next set of presidential and eighteen National Assembly candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday. National Pilot profiles the contestants of the two major parties of the 2019 general elections.
Senate
Kwara Central
Bukola Saraki PDP: After his stint as the Special Assistant on Budget to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki returned to his home state in 2003 to become the governor and served two terms of eight years under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Saraki, who is the first son of Kwara State political icon, Dr Olusola Saraki had since gone ahead to win all subsequent elections he contested as two term Senator before his emergence as the Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly in 2015.
He also contested the position of the President of the country in 2011 and 2019.
Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC): Just like his opponent in the PDP for the Kwara Central senatorial ticket, Ibrahim Oloriegbe is a medical doctor and had previously contested as senatorial candidate with Saraki in 2011 under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). This graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with over 30 years experience as medical professional and politician was majority leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003.
Kwara South
Rafiu Ibrahim PDP: Rafiu Ibrahim was a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly before he was elected into the National Assembly in 2011 to represent Oyun/Offa/Ifelodun Federal Constituency. During the 2015 election, he was elected as senator representing Kwara South and was appointed as the Chairman Senate Committee on Banking and Finance. Ibrahim who hails from Ojoku, Oyun Local Government Area of the state, worked in the banking sector for many years before he ventured into politics, about 10 years ago.
Lola Ashiru APC: This Architect from Shawo Central in Offa local government made his mark in property development with offices in Abuja and Lagos. He contested for the governorship of Kwara State in 2007 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) had twice taken a futile shot at the Kwara South senatorial seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kwara North
Zakari Mohammed PDP: From 2003 when he joined active politics after working as a news presenter and reporter at Radio Kwara from 1992-2002, Zakari Mohammed has enjoined the benefit of victories in successful elections. This graduate of Political Science from University of Ilorin served as Special Assistant, commissioner for Information and commissioner for Sports under the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki as governor. He has also spent two terms in the House of Representatives from 2011 till date Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency before he emerged the Kwara North Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.
Umar Suleiman Sodiq APC: From Kaiama ward 2, Umar Suleiman Sodiq is an employee of United Nations where he works as a pharmacist in one of the outreach arms of the global body.
He is said to hold a Masters degree from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
This younger brother of the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Shehu has not held any political appointment prior to his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kwara North Senatorial candidate.
House of Representatives (Ilorin West/Asa)
Rasaq Lawal (PDP): From Badari ward in Ilorin West Local Government, Rasaq Lawal is the former commissioner for Special Duties in Kwara State and also former special adviser on Political Matters. He was appointed the Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the PDP following the defection of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, a position he held until his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency.
Yekini Alajagusi (APC): Yekini Alajagusi hails from Ila-Oja in Asa local government and was former councilor of his ward. He had earlier served as a supervisory councilor on education before his election to the state House of Assembly in 1999 to represent Asa constituency.
While in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), he was first appointed the Assistant Financial Secretary and later Assistant Publicity Secretary on the party in the state.
Ilorin East/South
Wahab Oladimeji Issa (PDP): Wahab Issa is from Ilorin South local government and was former chairman of the council. He was later elected to represent Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency from 2011-2015 after which he succeeded Engr. Musa Yeketi as the Director-General of Mandate Constituency Office of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
AbdulGaniyu Cook Olododo (APC): Olododo hails from Ibagun ward in Ilorin East local government and has been a long term serving member of the Saraki dynasty before he pulled out of the structure last year. Olododo was a former council chairman and he later served as chief of staff and secretary to the state government. In 2011, he contested for the seat of Ilorin East/Ilorin South Federal Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to the party’s ticket to Dr Ali Ahmad (now the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly).
Baruten/Kaiama
Abubakar Musa (PDP): Widely known as Biology, before his emergence as the PDP’s House of Representatives candidate, Abubakar Musa operated in the education sector as teacher and principal in his local government – Kaiama. Though, Musa who hails from Kaiama ward II did not hold any political position before now; he reportedly stood with the party and contributed to its successes before now. This Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto graduate was the Kwara State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) before his emergence as the party’s House of Representatives candidate.
Omar Bio (APC): Omar Mohammed Bio is the immediate past council chairman of Baruten and a former teacher. As a politician, he was a member of Kwara State Continuity and Good Governance Forum from 2010-2011. The University of Jos and Ekiti State University graduate is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 23 years of civil service experience as Accountant, Internal-Auditor, Treasurer, Head of Section Finance and Supply and as Chief Accountant with Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.
Edu/Moro/Pategi
Hassan Mahmud Babako (PDP): Hassan Mahmud Babako is from Shonga district in Edu Local Government Area and was former Personal Assistant to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chieftain, Yunusa Yahaya. He is a businessman based in Abuja.
Ahmed Ndakene (APC): Ahmed Ndakene is the son of Abubakar Ndakene, the former chairman of the Kwara State Local Government Service commission during the administration of late governor Mohammed Lawal. The older Ndakene was later appointed Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission in the state. From Shonga district in Edu Local Government Area of the state, the younger Ndakene is a graduate of Ahamdu Bello University, Zaria and a businessman. He has not held any political position before now.
Ekiti/Isin/Oke-Ero/Irepodun
Raheem Olawuyi (APC): From Omu-Aran ward I, Raheem Olawuyi popularly called Ajulo Opin or ‘Nothing Spoil’ was a cement merchant and a businessman in iron and steel before he ventured into politics. He lost the House of Representatives ticket to late Funke Adedoyin during the 2015 election and also contested for the chairman of Irepodun local government under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost to Lukman Owolewa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In November 2018, Olawuyi defeated PDP candidate, Saheed Jimoh Alatise in the Ekiti/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency bye-election.
Dare Bankole PDP: Engr. Dare Bankole before now had operated largely in the private sector as a consultant and contractor for telecommunication firms. This Ph.D holder who has greatly supported the Saraki dynasty in Oke-Ero is described by stakeholders as โparty man to the coreโ with a rich private sector experience.
This PDP’s House of Representatives candidate hails from Ayedun ward in Oke-Ero.
Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun
Tope Olayonu PDP: He is a former member of the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) who joined the Saraki dynasty prior to the 2011 election. He won the party’s ticket to the Kwara State House of Assembly to represent Balogun/Ojomu constituency in 2011 and was preparing to contest his second term before he emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency in 2015.
Tijani Kayode Ismail APC: From Erin-Ile in Oyun local government, Tijani Ismail is a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna and he reportedly served as an aide to a federal lawmaker from Niger State. Ismail is described as a greenhorn as he has not held any political appointment before he won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency.
