Mustapha Leads Kwara APC Defectors to PDP Ahead of 2027

Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This move, announced after weeks of speculation, was followed by Hon. Kolo Jiya from Patigi Local Government Area, who is also seeking the PDP's senatorial ticket for Kwara North.

Their defections highlight the failure of internal reconciliation efforts within the APC, particularly after a contentious governorship primary that left many aspirants dissatisfied. Mustapha stated that his departure is part of a broader coalition called the "Rainbow Coalition," which includes the G15 group of aggrieved aspirants and other notable APC figures.

He emphasized that the coalition's issues are with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's management style rather than with President Bola Tinubu, whose re-election bid in 2027 they continue to support. Mustapha framed the coalition's choice of the PDP as a strategic move to align with Tinubu's national ambitions while aiming to reshape the political landscape in Kwara.