OFFA — Former Kwara State lawmaker and two-term member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Popoola, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his supporters in Offa Local Government Area.
Speaking during the defection rally on Sunday, Popoola said his decision followed deep reflection on the direction of the ruling party, which he claimed had lost its original vision of justice and progress.
“I joined APC in 2013 with a dream of fairness and prosperity, but the party lost its soul. Loyalty became to individuals, not the people,” he said. “I’m joining the PDP not out of desperation but as a believer in justice and equity.”
Popoola expressed confidence that the PDP would reclaim power in Kwara State by 2027, adding that the party remained the only credible opposition in Nigeria.
He also blamed the current administration for the rise in banditry and insecurity across parts of the state, accusing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of poor governance and abandoning the ideals of the O to Ge movement that brought the APC to power in 2019.
“Unity and inclusivity have been replaced with personal interests,” he lamented.
Receiving the defectors, Kwara PDP Chairman, Hon. Issa Bawa, described Popoola’s return as “a homecoming” that would strengthen the party ahead of the next elections. “Offa is for PDP in 2027. What we are witnessing today shows that PDP is regaining its strength,” he said.
However, the APC dismissed Popoola’s defection as insignificant. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waheed Babatunde, said, “His presence was never felt. He left the party long before the last general election. Offa remains progressive and will stand with Governor Abdulrazaq and the APC in 2027.”