Why Ex-Kwara Lawmaker Saheed Popoola Left APC for PDP

A two-term member of the Kwara State House of Assembly and prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Saheed Popoola, has officially defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside a large number of his supporters in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The defection, which took place on Sunday, marks a significant political shift in Offa, a town long considered one of the APC’s strongholds. Popoola, who previously represented the Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, said his decision to dump the APC was the result of deep personal reflection and disappointment over what he described as the party’s loss of purpose and moral direction.

Addressing a cheering crowd at the event, Popoola explained that his political journey with the APC began at its very foundation in 2013, when he was among the first to contest under its platform. However, he lamented that the ruling party had since deviated from its founding principles of justice, fairness, and service to the people.

“I was the first person to contest under the APC platform in 2013 in Nigeria. 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 declared.

He further noted that his move to the PDP was not motivated by desperation or personal ambition, but by conviction and belief in a political platform that, according to him, still values fairness, justice, and equity. “I’m joining the PDP not as a desperate politician but as a believer in fairness, justice, and equity. The PDP is peaceful and remains the only viable opposition in Nigeria,” he stated.

While addressing the crowd, Popoola expressed strong optimism that the PDP would reclaim power in Kwara State in the 2027 general elections. “The PDP is going to take over the government and governance of Kwara State in 2027,” he said, to loud cheers and applause from the audience.

Popoola also used the occasion to criticize the current APC-led administration in the state, accusing it of misgovernance and failing to address the rising insecurity and banditry in some parts of Kwara. He lamented that the state, which had long enjoyed relative peace since its creation in 1967, is now grappling with attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of residents.

“We have never seen banditry in Kwara since its creation in 1967. Hundreds of our people have been killed,” he said, blaming the situation on what he described as poor leadership and lack of effective governance by the state authorities.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed Popoola’s defection as inconsequential. The party claimed that Popoola’s exit had no political weight, arguing that he had long distanced himself from party affairs even before the last general elections.

In a statement issued by the APC, the party maintained that Popoola’s presence in the ruling fold was never felt and that his departure would not in any way affect the party’s dominance or strength in Kwara politics.

Political analysts, however, believe that Popoola’s defection, particularly in a politically active area like Offa, could signal the beginning of new alignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Many observers say his move could boost PDP’s morale in Kwara State, where the ruling APC has maintained firm control since 2019.