Scores of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members and supporters of Kwara Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq at the weekend defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Baruten local government area.
The defection may affect the re-election bid of Governor Abdulrazaq in 2023 as some of the defectors were rooting for SDP governorship candidate Hakeem Lawal.
The former APC members hinged their defection on alleged high-handedness and impunity by the erstwhile party.
The defectors were led by an aggrieved House of Assembly aspirant and son of the Emir of Yashikira, Prince Umar Sariki Usman.
They argued that imposition of candidates as opposed to local zoning arrangements elective posts in the council has become the norm.
Makama Yashikira Alhaji Adamu Yusuf said: “We have gentleman agreement of power rotation between Okuta and Yashikira divide making up our constituency, it is now the turn of Yashikira to occupy the Assembly seat.
” Sadly, the APC decided to breach the agreement and I want to let you understand that an average Batonu man will always stand by his word, that’s why we’ve decided to leave the APC and pitch our tent with the SDP is the party and no going back.”
The defectors promised to erase the memory of APC from the local government after which they did a symbolic burning of the broom.
Kwara SDP chair Azeez Afolabi led other members of the state working committee to Kosubosu, Baruten LG headquarters.
Alhaji Afolabi promised the defectors a level playing field.
He told the defectors that “SDP abhors imposition, high-handedness and cheating,” adding that fairness, justice and equity are the watchwords of SDP.”