Hundreds of young members of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State have dumped the ruling party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, attributing their decision to worsening economic hardship, unfulfilled promises, and growing discontent 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 formally announced their exit from the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Leader of the defectors from Ubandawaki Ward, Mallam Musa Kabir, said their decision followed years of neglect and frustration under the APC-led government.
He admitted that supporting the “Otoge” movement during the 2019 and 2023 elections had turned out to be a mistake, lamenting that it brought “hardship and regret” instead of the expected development.
Kabir criticized Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration for what he described as a lack of vision and failure to create opportunities for young people.
He added that several small businesses and shops had collapsed across Ilorin due to unfavorable government policies, leading to widespread unemployment among youths.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the PDP leadership, the party’s State Secretary, Comrade Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode, who also hails from Ubandawaki Ward, commended the new members for their courage. He described their decision as a “bold step toward rebuilding responsible leadership in Kwara.”
Kayode noted that many young people who played active roles in the Otoge struggle were sidelined after the APC came to power. He lauded Musa Kabir for mobilizing youths across different wards and fostering unity among them.
The PDP scribe assured the returnees of full inclusion in the party’s structure, promising them participation in decision-making and equal access to opportunities within the party.
Other speakers at the event included Wasiu Orekan, Alfa Adam Elelubo, Lookman Olarotimi Shehu Mukadam, Alhaja Shuaib Dupe Salamat, Alanamu Abubakar Jos, and veteran politician Alhaji Musa Tapa. They all condemned what they termed “widespread neglect” by the present government.
Alhaja Salamat, a former civil servant who lost her job after the Otoge victory, recounted her ordeal, accusing the administration of abandoning its early supporters.
In his remarks, Alhaji Musa Tapa, a long-time associate of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, declared his return to the Saraki political family. He urged the youth to register and collect their voter cards in preparation to “flush out bad governance” in the 2027 general elections.
