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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come under a fresh legal challenge in Kwara ahead of the 2027 general election, as a former Commissioner for Works, Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, approached the Federal High Court in Ilorin over the party’s substitution of his name as its Kwara North senatorial candidate.
Iliasu, who claimed to have won the party’s primary election for the district, is challenging the emergence of Baba Kolo Jiyah, whose name was published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday as the PDP candidate for the election.
Joined as respondents in the suit marked FHC/IL/CS/136/2026 are INEC, the PDP and Jiyah.
In his originating summons filed through Alajo & Associates, Ilorin, Iliasu is asking the court to determine whether the substitution and subsequent publication of Jiyah’s name complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He contends that he emerged winner of the PDP primary conducted on May 20 and that INEC subsequently published his name on August 1 as the party’s candidate for the Kwara North Senatorial District.
His case is that his name was later replaced by Jiyah without his withdrawal of candidature, which he argues is required under Section 31 of the Electoral Act.
Iliasu is therefore seeking declarations that the substitution is unlawful and that he remains the validly nominated PDP candidate, as well as an order directing INEC to continue recognising him in that capacity.
He is also asking the court to restrain INEC, its officials and agents from recognising Jiyah as the PDP candidate pending the determination of the suit.
The dispute comes as INEC’s publication of candidates has brought several major Kwara contests into sharper focus.
In the Kwara Central senatorial race, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC and incumbent Senator Saliu Mustapha of the PDP are among those on the ballot.
INEC had earlier listed 12 parties and their candidates for the Kwara governorship election, with the APC fielding Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu and the PDP presenting Bolakale Kawu.
Other parties on the list include the SDP, ADP, Accord, ADC, NDC, APP, AA, APM, NDP, APGA and NNPP.
Among the other notable contenders are former House of Representatives member Zakari Mohammed of the ADC and Professor Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia of the NDC. (Daily Trust)
