A two-term member of the Kwara State House of Assembly and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Saheed Popoola, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with his supporters in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state.
Popoola, who represented the Ojomu/Balogun Constituency, announced his defection on Sunday, saying the decision followed “deep reflection” on the state of the ruling party.
“I was the first person to contest under the APC platform in 2013. We started the APC together with a vision of justice and prosperity, but over time, the party lost its soul. Loyalty became to individuals, not the people,” Popoola said.
He added that his move to the PDP was driven by a belief in fairness and justice, not desperation.
“I’m joining the PDP not as a desperate politician but as a believer in fairness, justice, and equity. The PDP remains peaceful and the only viable opposition in Nigeria,” he stated.
Popoola expressed confidence that the PDP would reclaim power in Kwara State in 2027, vowing that “Offa will rise again.” He also criticised the state government for the rise in banditry and insecurity, attributing it to what he described as “misgovernance.”
“We have never seen banditry in Kwara since its creation in 1967. Hundreds of our people have been killed. The current governor does not understand governance — he thinks only about himself,” he said.
The former lawmaker, a prominent figure in the “O To Ge” (Enough is Enough) movement that helped bring the APC to power in 2019, lamented that the ideals of the struggle had been “betrayed.”
“After the Otoge struggle, the governor abandoned the ideals we stood for. Unity and inclusivity were thrown away; personal interest took over,” he said.
Receiving Popoola and his supporters, the Kwara PDP Chairman, Hon. Issa Bawa, described the defection as a “homecoming” that would strengthen the party ahead of 2027.
“What we have seen today shows clearly that the PDP is regaining its momentum. Offa is for PDP in 2027. Offa will rise and be great again,” Bawa said.
He praised Popoola’s “integrity and conviction,” adding that former Senate President Bukola Saraki had urged Offa residents to “compare what PDP did for them with what APC has done — the difference is clear.”
However, the Kwara APC dismissed the defection as inconsequential.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waheed Babatunde, said Popoola’s exit would not affect the APC’s strength.
“The party won’t miss Saheed Popoola because his presence was never felt. He left long before the last general election and is only making it official today,” Babatunde said.
He maintained that Offa “has always been progressive” and would continue to support Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC to retain power in 2027.
