2027 Elections: Kwara Youths Defect from APC to PDP Amid Major Political Shift
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara has suffered a major setback as hundreds of its members, mostly youths, defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing widespread hardship, unfulfilled promises, and disappointment with the current administration.
The mass defection took place in Ilorin, the state capital, where youths from Ajikobi, Alanamu, and Ubandawaki wards in Ilorin West Local Government Area officially announced their departure from the APC in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Leading the defectors, Mallam Musa Kabir from Ubandawaki Ward said their decision was born out of frustration and years of neglect under the APC government.
He described their earlier support for the “Otoge” movement in 2019 and 2023 as a mistake that had brought “hardship and regret” instead of the expected progress and prosperity.
Kabir criticised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration for lacking a clear developmental vision and failing to create opportunities for young people.
He lamented that the government’s harsh economic policies had crippled small businesses across Ilorin, leading to rising unemployment and poverty among youths.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the PDP leadership, the party’s State Secretary, Comrade Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode, also from Ubandawaki Ward, commended them for what he described as a courageous and patriotic decision.
He noted that their defection represented “a bold step toward rebuilding responsible leadership in Kwara State.”
Kayode recalled that many youths who championed the “Otoge” movement were sidelined after the APC took power, stressing that their return to the PDP marked a restoration of trust and purpose.
He lauded Kabir for his efforts in uniting young people across the three wards and fostering renewed political consciousness.
The PDP scribe assured the new members of full inclusion in the party’s structure, promising them equal opportunities in decision-making and political participation.
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, decried what they termed “widespread neglect and failed governance” under the current administration.
Alhaja Salamat, a former civil servant dismissed after the 2019 “Otoge” victory, recounted her ordeal and accused the government of abandoning its loyal supporters.
On his part, Alhaji Musa Tapa, a long-time associate of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, announced his formal return to the Saraki political family.
He urged the youths to register for their voter cards ahead of the 2027 polls, stressing the need to “flush out bad governance through the ballot.”