Only contestants from nine of the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State have been declared eligible, having met all requirements as provided in the rules and regulations, to contest in the forthcoming elections into the Football Councils of the state.
This much was revealed after the screening exercise conducted today by the Electoral Committee fir the elections, at the Alhaji Usman Shehu Mustapha Football House, Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The exercise, according to the Committee, was done in line with the Statues, Electoral Code and Electoral Guidelines of the Kwara State Football Association.
The nine (9) Local Football Councils cleared to participate in the Elections are Edu, Ekiti, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Offa, Oyun, and Patigi Local Government Areas.
According to the Committee, the nine LGs have the necessary documents/requirements, which includes affiliation to Kwara State Football Association, payment of all annual subscriptions to the Football Association, dully filled Intent Forms and provision of correct and eligible Electorates list to stand for election.
Four (4) of the Local Football Councils: Asa, Ifelodun, Ilorin West and Moro Local Government Areas failed to meet up with the pre-requisites expected to participate in the 2023 elections.
For Asa Local Government Area, there was no payment of subscription for two years, and also, submitted list of unqualified Electorates.
Ifelodun equally did not pay subscription for two years, didn’t submit list of Electorates and filled incomplete Intent Forms, while Ilorin West did not pay subscription for two years, and again, submitted list of unqualified Electorates’.
Moro Local Government Area too failed to make it by not paying subscription for two years, no list of Electorates, and no filled Forms of Intent. The Four Local Government Areas stand disqualified from the exercise.
The three (3) other Local Football Councils, Baruten, Kaiama and Oke-Ero also fell short of the requirements to participate in the elections.
Even as the three Local Government Areas duely paid their affiliation fees for the period under review, Barutein has incomplete Intent Forms and no list of Electorates. Kaiama too submitted incomplete Intent Forms and no list of Electorates.
For Oke Ero Local Government Area, no endorsement of contestants’ Forms and no list of Electorates, and couldn’t complete the process for the submission of all the necessary pre-requisites needed for their Local Football Councils elections.
The three Local Government Areas however, have up till tomorrow Friday 10th March, 2023, latest by 3:00pm, to complete and updates their documents or stand disqualified too.
Appeals (if any) on the above rulings will also be heard tomorrow Friday 10th March, 2023 by 4:00pm.
The Board of the Kwara State Football Association has said that they will leave no stone unturned to have a credible Local Football Councils elections and the next State Executive Board elections by following creditably, the Statutes and all the necessary tools for successful elections.
The Association, through its Chairman, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa assured all football stakeholders of free and fair elections.
Following the change in date for the State Gubernatorial Elections, which has now been slated for Saturday 18th March, 2023, the Electoral Committee has moved the Kwara State Local Football Councils Election to Tuesday 21st March, 2023, at Alhaji Shehu Usman Mustapha Football House, Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin beginning from 8:00am.
