The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State is facing fresh internal turmoil as its Kwara North senatorial candidate, Rotimi Iliasu, has approached the Federal High Court in Ilorin to contest the substitution of his name with that of Kolo Jiya.
Iliasu insisted that he emerged victorious at the PDP senatorial primary held on May 20, 2026. Following the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published his name on August 1, 2026, as the party’s candidate for the Kwara North senatorial election.
However, a subsequent list issued by INEC omitted Iliasu’s name and replaced it with Jiya’s, prompting the former to institute legal proceedings.
Jiya, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, joined the opposition party following negotiations between PDP leaders and some dissatisfied APC chieftains in the state.
Under the agreement reached during the negotiations, the Kwara PDP reportedly surrendered some elective tickets to the group. The arrangement has seen Senator Saliu Mustapha emerge as the new Kwara Central senatorial candidate, while Jiya was presented as the new candidate for Kwara North.
The development, however, has been rejected by Iliasu, who wants the court to determine whether the substitution of his name and the subsequent publication of Jiya’s name by INEC were carried out in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
In the suit numbered FHC/IL/CS/136/2026, Iliasu relied on Sections 29, 31, 32 and 33 of the Act. He is asking the court to declare the substitution of his name invalid and order INEC to continue recognising him as the legitimate PDP candidate for the Kwara North senatorial election.
The suit was instituted on Iliasu’s behalf by lawyers from Alajo & Associates, Ilorin, with INEC, the PDP and Jiya listed as respondents.
The applicant also requested an injunction preventing INEC from continuing to recognise Jiya as the PDP candidate pending the determination of the case.
The legal challenge could have significant implications for the Kwara State PDP as the party prepares for next year’s election.
