2027: APC members defect to PDP in Kwara

Hundreds of APC members in Alanamu Ward, Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State, who defected to PDP ahead of 2027, on Saturday. Photo: Toheeb Omotayo.

More members of the All Progressives Congress in the Alanamu Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, who are said to be supporters of the senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, were drawn from different polling units in the local government.

They were formally received into the PDP on Saturday during a rally held at the party’s Alanamu Ward secretariat and attended by party leaders and other stakeholders.

The development came weeks after the senator resigned from the APC and joined the PDP in August, following a prolonged disagreement within the ruling party.

The senator, who had contested the APC governorship primary won by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, said his decision to leave the party followed consultations with supporters, constituents and political stakeholders.

He also cited developments within the Kwara APC and the conduct of the party’s leadership, which he said had eroded his confidence in the party.

The senator subsequently secured the PDP ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial election in 2027.

Speaking for the new PDP members, the leader of the defectors, AbdulRazaq Adio, said their decision was largely influenced by their loyalty to Mustapha.

Adio said the group would remain with the senator irrespective of the political platform on which he chose to contest.

“We are here because of our principal, Senator Saliu Mustapha. He is a distinguished politician who is loved by all. We will continue to stand by him wherever he chooses to pursue his political career,” he said.

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He added that the defectors were also encouraged by the leadership of former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and what he described as the direction of the PDP in the state.

He pledged that the new members would work with other PDP supporters to secure victory for the party and its candidates in the 2027 elections.

“We are also encouraged by the leadership of our former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and the direction of the PDP in Kwara State.

“We believe in the party’s leadership and are ready to work with other members to achieve success in 2027,” he stated.

Adio also thanked the PDP leadership in Alanamu Ward for receiving the defectors, saying their arrival would strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation.

Receiving the new members, the PDP Chairman in Alanamu Ward, Abdulgafar Alawo, described the defection as a significant addition to the party’s structure ahead of the elections.

Alawo assured the defectors that they would be given the opportunity to participate fully in the activities of the party.

He urged them to contribute actively to the growth of the PDP rather than merely joining the party ahead of the elections.

The latest movement adds to the political realignments in Kwara following Mustapha’s exit from the APC and his subsequent emergence as the PDP’s senatorial candidate for Kwara Central.