By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Scores of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) stalwarts from across the four local government areas that make up Kwara Central Senatorial District have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Ibagun ward in Ilorin East local government was worse hit as former aides of the immediate past Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, led their supporters to team up with the APC.
Famous among the PDP stalwarts who defected to the ruling APC alongside hundreds of their supporters included Barrister Shehu Salaudeen Ismail, a former Liaison Officer to the former Governor Ahmed and
Alhaji Oladimeji Ayinla, former Ibagun PDP youth leader and former Legislative Aide to Saraki.
It would be recalled that about 3,000 members of the PDP in Ibagun ward had in 2021 defected enmasse to the APC, citing the superlative performance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the appointment of some illustrious indigenes of the area into key government offices.
Notable government appointees from Ibagun ward include the Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, Senior Special Assistant on Security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu, Director General, Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP), Abdulquawiy Olododo, Ilorin East LGEA Secretary, Mallam Raufu Asude and Hon. Olokoto, member of the Board of a signpost government agency, Kwara Harmony Holdings Ltd.
The latest defectors from the PDP joined the APC on Saturday during a well attended rally held in Ibagun ward, Okelele, Ilorin.
Other notable PDP chieftains that defected to the APC are Babatunde Aremu, Ayuba AbdulGaniyu, AbdulGafar Adekunle, Yunus Kayode Ibrahim, Hammed Ayinla, Adam Ayinla, Dauda isiaka Amuyankan, Sikiru Soliu Amuyankan, Kamaldeen Bushari, Toheeb Abdullah, Musa Ajibola, among others.
The defectors were received by Governor AbdulRazaq’s Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, who assured them of fair and equal treatment with old members of the APC in the area.
Salahu thanked the defectors for recognising the giant strides of Governor AbdulRazaq across all sectors, including youth and women empowerment, which he noted motivated them into joining the APC.
He charged them to join hands with the old members of the APC and work assiduously for an all-round victory for the party and its candidates from the state to federal level during the impending 2023 general elections.