Nigeria’s youngest serving lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu, has secured the All Progressives Congress ticket to contest again for the Owode/Onire State Constituency seat in the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Shittu emerged victorious during the APC primary election held on Wednesday after defeating her only opponent, Sulyman Ayegun.
Her victory is already drawing attention across the constituency, especially because of the long standing political tradition in the area which usually allows power to rotate between the Owode and Onire axes. The arrangement has historically made it difficult for lawmakers to return for a second term.
Party members and observers described the primary election as highly competitive, with Shittu’s emergence reflecting her growing popularity and strong backing within the APC ahead of the next general election.
With the victory, the young lawmaker now becomes the party’s official candidate for the constituency as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the polls.
Supporters believe her performance and growing influence played a major role in securing the ticket, while many within the constituency are already looking forward to what could become another historic moment in the area’s political history.
If she wins the general election, Rukayat Shittu would become the first lawmaker from the Owode/Onire constituency to successfully secure a second term, potentially ending a long established political pattern in the district.
Political stakeholders say the outcome of the APC primary has already set the stage for what is expected to become one of the closely watched contests in the constituency as parties begin mobilisation ahead of the election.
