Hundreds of youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have dumped the ruling party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing hardship, unfulfilled promises, and disappointment in the current administration.
The mass defection took place in Ilorin, the state capital, as youths from Ajikobi, Alanamu, and Ubandawaki Wards in Ilorin West Local Government publicly announced their exit from the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The leader of the defectors, Mallam Musa Kabir from Ubandawaki Ward, said their decision followed years of neglect and frustration under the APC government.
He admitted that their support for the “Otoge” movement in 2019 and 2023 was a mistake that brought “hardship and regret” rather than progress.
Kabir accused the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led administration of lacking clear vision and failing to provide opportunities for the youth.
He lamented that several small businesses and shops across Ilorin collapsed due to harsh government policies, pushing many young people into unemployment.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the PDP leadership, the party’s State Secretary, Comrade Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode, who also hails from Ubandawaki Ward, praised the courage of the returnees.
He described their move as a “bold step toward rebuilding responsible leadership in Kwara.”
Kayode noted that many youths who toiled during the Otoge struggle were abandoned after the APC took power.
He commended Musa Kabir for mobilizing young people across wards and reconciling divisions within the community.
The State Secretary assured the new members of full inclusion in the PDP’s structure, promising them participation in decision-making and equal access to party opportunities.
Other speakers at the event, including Wasiu Orekan, Alfa Adam Elelubo, Lookman Olarotimi Shehu Mukadam, Alhaja Shuaib Dupe Salamat, Alanamu Abubakar Jos, and veteran politician Alhaji Musa Tapa, also took turns to condemn what they called “widespread neglect” by the current government.
Alhaja Salamat, a former civil servant sacked after the Otoge victory, shared her experience, accusing the administration of abandoning loyal supporters.
On his part, Alhaji Musa Tapa, a long-time associate of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, announced his return to the Saraki political family.
He urged young people to obtain their voter cards and “flush out bad governance” in the 2027 elections.
Ward chairmen from Alanamu, Ajikobi, and Ubandawaki — Mallam Gafar Alawo, Abubakar Yusuf Garba, and Mallam Mashood Ahmed welcomed the defectors and assured them of cooperation and equal recognition in their wards.
The Press Officer on Local Matters to Dr. Bukola Saraki, Comrade Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, also commended the new PDP members for aligning with the Saraki structure, promising them a fair platform and the full backing of the leadership.
He emphasized the need for unity and grassroots coordination as the PDP prepares to challenge the APC in 2027.