Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Senator Saliu Mustapha have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, setting aside the political controversy generated by last week’s Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The defections came after APC supporters and social media influencers circulated spurious claims about the implications of the Supreme Court decision for opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court had upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
However, the political interpretations pushed online appeared to have done little to halt the movement of Mustapha’s supporters out of the APC.
In Wara Osin/Egbejila, hundreds of supporters trooped onto the roads in solidarity with Mustapha, the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, as they publicly announced their movement to the PDP.
The defectors accused the APC in the state of being hijacked by a small group, saying they no longer felt comfortable remaining in the ruling party.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the leader of the group, Alhaji Amosa Abdulganiy, said the members had resolved to mobilize massively for PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.
According to him, their support will extend from the party’s governorship candidate to its senatorial, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly candidates.
Abdulganiy said the defectors vowed to work with existing PDP stakeholders and structures in the ward to deliver the area for the opposition party.
He hailed the PDP for handing the Ilorin Central State Constituency ticket to a son of the ward, describing the decision as a major boost to their determination to mobilize for the party.
The latest defections come amid continuing political realignments in Kwara Central ahead of the 2027 elections, with Mustapha’s supporters moving from the APC to the PDP in several communities.