Fresh defections hit Kwara PDP

Over 2,000 members of the PDP in Kwara State, yesterday, defected to the opposition APC, the second of such major exodus from the party in one week after the crushing defeat it suffered in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The mass defections took place in Taiwo area of Ilorin, led by Hon. Bamidele Aluko, a former House of Assembly member and a staunch foot soldier of Senator Bukola Saraki.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of ANRP in the state, Dr Abdulmumeen Yinka Ajia, has declared his support for the APC candidate, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, saying he largely represents his dream about the state.

Ajia, a leading candidate with appreciable followers among the youth, said in a statement at the weekend in Ilorin that AbdulRazaq’s victory would turn the page for the political history of Kwara.

Ajia also announced his immediate resignation from the ANRP and movement to the APC, saying “the situation in Kwara is really not about party but our struggle against retrogressive leadership as a people.”

He called on his supporters to deliver their bloc votes for the APC candidate.

Also, yesterday in Ilorin, over 500 PDP members from Asa Local Government Area joined the APC.

Leaders of the defectors said the outcome of the National Assembly elections was the clearest manifestation “that Kwarans have decided to reject and retire Senator Saraki for reasons of bad governance, oppression and noninclusive leadership.”