Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The realignments among the political stakeholders in Kwara State intensified yesterday as the Chairman and Secretary of Gambari Ward 1 in Ilorin East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulhakeem and Abdulwaheed Dauda Adanla, respectively, and 10 other executives of the ward have resigned their membership of the party, and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This development followed the exit of the senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, from the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
The 12 officials, including the ward chairman and secretary, resigned from their positions and withdrew their membership of the APC within hours of Mustapha’s defection from the ruling party.
Abdulhakeem, and Adanla communicated their decisions to the APC Chairman in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Habib Ajibola, on Friday.
Ten other members of the ward executive subsequently tendered a joint resignation letter yesterday.
According to the 10 ward executives, “The decision was reached after careful consideration for the best interest of our beloved ward. We thank the party for the platform given to serve.”
The 10 officials are the Treasurer, Olayinka Odunlami; Auditor-General, Kelani Kola Saheed; Legal Adviser, Bube Lukman; and Assistant Auditor-General, Adebayo Kazeem.
Others are Assistant Treasurer, Muhammed Yunus Idowu; Assistant Youth Leader, Ganiyu Taiye Ofide; Assistant Women Leader, Alhaja Iyalanki; Assistant Secretary, Muhammed Abdullahi O.; Assistant Financial Secretary, Olabowu Tosho; and Assistant Organising Secretary, Umar Abubakar Hajj.
The executives said they would join Mustapha in the PDP and align with what they described as an emerging “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general election.
In his resignation letter, Abdulhakeem said he was stepping down from his position as ward chairman and withdrawing his membership of the APC.
The former ward chairman thanked party members, executive members, elders and other stakeholders for their support during his tenure
Adanla, in a separate resignation letter dated Friday, also announced his withdrawal from the party and his position as ward secretary.
Adanla said his decision followed “careful consideration” and expressed appreciation to the party for the opportunity to serve.
The former secretary also pledged to hand over party documents, records, stamps and other properties in his possession to the appropriate authorities.
“Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from both office and membership,” Adanla said.
The resignations came after Mustapha announced his decision to leave the APC on Thursday through a resignation letter dated August 14 and addressed to the chairman of Gambari Ward 1.
Mustapha said his decision followed consultations with constituents, supporters and other stakeholders, citing recent developments within the Kwara APC and concerns over the party’s leadership in the state.
The senator subsequently joined the PDP and picked the party’s ticket to seek re-election as the senator representing Kwara Central in the 2027 general election.