Rotimi Illiasu, Kwara State’s former works and transport commissioner, says he is challenging the alleged withdrawal of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate nomination for Kwara North after winning the party primary.
BusinessDay reported that the PDP later announced Kolo Jiya as its candidate for the district. The outlet also linked the reported change to talks with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were dissatisfied with their party’s primary process. BusinessDay said Senate nominations were discussed as a way to gain those members’ support in the election; that account is unverified.
Illiasu said his nomination came through a competitive vote. In an interview with local journalists, he contrasted that process with the consensus selections he said produced the PDP’s candidates in Kwara Central and Kwara South. He said those nominees understood that their positions could be reviewed, while he considered his own nomination final because party members had chosen him in a primary.
Illiasu said the dispute was discussed with Bukola Saraki, the PDP leader in Kwara State and a former Senate president. According to Illiasu, Saraki was unhappy that he would not voluntarily surrender the ticket. Illiasu said Saraki maintained that the party’s decision would stand but told him he could seek relief in court.
Illiasu said his court action was intended to contest the nomination change and show that disputes could be resolved through the judicial system. “I went to court for justice,” he told BusinessDay. He also said he would accept an unfavorable ruling.
He said Moro was the only one of Kwara North’s five local government areas never to have produced a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. BusinessDay described the Senate contest as scheduled for January.
