Former All Progressives Congress ward chairmen in Offa Local Government have joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This disclosure was contained in a press statement made available to this medium by the Media Assistant to the Director General, Kwara State PDP Campaign Council, Sulaiman Abdulwaheed Olamilekan, on Wednesday, February 1.
EVENTNG gathered that the 10 ward chairmen out of the twelve wards constituting Offa Local Government announced their defection on Wednesday at the Party’s Secretariat in GRA, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Spokesperson for the aggrieved defectors, Olarinoye Maruf (Ojomu North-West) criticised the current administration for neglecting Offa LG in the area of Human Capacity building.
The decampees cited lack of transparency, youth unemployment, and the internal fracas emanating from the party’s last primaries elections in May as reasons for their defection.
He said, “After much deliberations with thousands of our followers, We have decided to resign our membership of the APC to join the people-centric party, the PDP. Today, no chieftain or member of the APC can boast of our influence and impact in the last OTOGEE struggle across the twelve political wards in Offa Local Government.
“The essence of joining politics is for the future of our children but the reverse was the case after the emergence of APC in the 2019 elections. Instead of our children benefiting from the government we worked for, they were all disappointed with us because we could not provide them with job opportunities and facilities that could make their lives better.”
Olarinoye further maintained that the PDP would be a safe haven and serve the people of Offa local government when entrusted with power again in the upcoming polls.
“And today, as we resolve to join the PDP, we are hopeful that our plight will be addressed and our children will be proud of the incoming government,” he added.
The defectors further knocked governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, Lola Ashiru for looking away while the party is submerged in internecine crises.
Some of the aggrieved defectors include: Olayemi Rafiu (Ojomu North-West); Olanrewaju Muritala (Shawo South-West); Fagade Akeem (Balogun Ward); Oladuntoye Olalekan (Balogun Ward).
Others are: Oyerinde Tunde (Ojomu CB); Babatunde Saheed (Ojomu CB); Bolaji Salahudeen (Shawo SW); Alhameeda Mubarak (Shawo SW); Olajemi Oluranti (Ojomu CB); Oyebode Toyin Ismail (Shawo SW); Lasun Olarinoye (Ojomu CB); Kayode Olaosebikan (Shawo South-East); Segun Olanipekun (Essa A).
