Former Kwara State lawmaker Saheed Popoola has formally exited the All Progressives Congress and aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party, taking several supporters with him from Offa Local Government Area in a move that could add fresh tension to the state’s political landscape ahead of 2027.
Popoola, who once represented the Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, said his decision followed serious reflection on the direction of the ruling party. He argued that the APC had drifted away from the ideals that inspired many of its early loyalists, insisting that the platform no longer reflects the values on which it was built.
According to Gossip News Now, the former lawmaker said he was among the earliest politicians to contest on the APC platform and therefore understood the original vision of the party. In his view, that mission has now been replaced by personal loyalty and internal interests, leaving little room for the justice-and-people-centered politics he once believed it represented.
Explaining why he chose the PDP, Popoola said his move was not driven by desperation or political survival, but by his belief that the opposition party still offers a more credible path for fairness, equity and inclusive politics. He expressed confidence that the PDP could stage a major comeback in Kwara State and even reclaim power in the next general election.
The former APC figure did not stop at announcing his defection. He also launched a sharp attack on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, accusing the administration of poor governance and a failure to prevent worsening insecurity in parts of the state. Popoola lamented the emergence of deadly bandit attacks, arguing that Kwara had historically been shielded from such threats because previous leaders understood how to govern more effectively.
He also revisited the spirit of the O To Ge movement, the political uprising that helped end PDP dominance in Kwara in 2019. Popoola said many of those who sacrificed for that struggle expected a government built on unity, shared purpose and inclusion, but claimed those expectations were later abandoned as personal interest took center stage.
His return to the PDP was warmly received by leaders of the opposition in the state. Kwara PDP chairman Issa Bawa described the moment as a homecoming and suggested that the defection signals renewed momentum for the party, especially in Offa. He praised Popoola’s decision and used the occasion to call on other aggrieved politicians to also reconsider their place in the APC.
The PDP event also carried a broader political message, with party leaders urging residents to compare past governance under the PDP with the current record of the APC administration. That comparison, they argued, would become even more important as political calculations begin to intensify before the 2027 elections.
The APC, however, brushed aside the development and insisted it would have no meaningful effect on the party’s fortunes. Its spokesperson in Kwara described Popoola’s exit as insignificant, claiming he had long ceased to matter within the ruling party. The APC also maintained that Offa remains firmly progressive territory and expressed confidence that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the party would remain politically secure in 2027.
Commentary and Analysis
Popoola’s defection is notable not just because of the switch itself, but because of the symbolism attached to it. As someone once associated with the APC’s rise in Kwara, his departure gives the PDP a talking point it can use to question the unity and direction of the ruling party in the state.
His criticism of insecurity and exclusion also suggests that the coming political battle in Kwara may not revolve around party labels alone, but around performance, trust and whether the promises of 2019 were truly fulfilled. That makes his move more than a routine defection; it becomes part of a wider argument over the future of governance in the state.
At the same time, the APC’s dismissive response shows it is unwilling to grant the moment much weight. Whether Popoola’s move proves consequential will depend on how much influence he still commands in Offa and whether more defections follow in the months ahead.
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