A former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Popoola, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the ruling party’s abandonment of fairness, justice, and unity.
Popoola, who represented the Ojomu/Balogun constituency, made the announcement on Sunday in Offa, alongside his supporters.
During his defection speech, Popoola expressed deep disappointment with the APC’s current state, stating that the party had “lost its soul” due to the emphasis on loyalty to individuals over the people.
He criticized Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s leadership, highlighting the rising insecurity in the state, particularly banditry, which he attributed to poor governance.
“The current governor does not understand governance. He thinks only about himself and his ideas, that’s why we are where we are today,” Popoola said.
He also noted that the ideals of the 2019 “Otoge” struggle, which brought the APC to power, had been abandoned, with unity and inclusivity being replaced by personal interests.
In response to Popoola’s defection, the APC dismissed it as insignificant, with the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waheed Babatunde, stating that Popoola’s presence was never felt in the party and that his departure would not affect the party’s strength in the state.
However, PDP’s state chairman, Hon. Issa Bawa, welcomed Popoola to the party, describing his return as a “homecoming” that would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bawa expressed confidence that the PDP would regain momentum in Offa and across the state, with Popoola predicting that the party would reclaim power in Kwara in 2027.
