Date: 2015-01-29

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State yesterday gained more members with the defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to it. 

Among the defectors who were said to be over 5,000 in Ilorin West and Asa local governments was Dr. Saad Omoiya, an ardent critic of former Governor Bukola Saraki and a close associate of a PDP chieftain and one-time governorship candidate, Mr. Dele Belgore.

Omoiya was the director general of Belgore’s campaign organisation when he was the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011.

Daily Trust reports that the sudden appearance of Omoiya at an APC campaign rally in Alanamu Ward threw the crowd into jubilation given his fame as one of the most vociferous critics of the Saraki dynasty.

Omoiya who addressed the crowd stated that he dumped the PDP because the party had turned to “a burning fire”, saying he decided to pitch tent with APC which has “enough water to quench the fire of the ruling party”.

He said: “Don’t be surprised to see me here, I have been working with the late Olooye in the 70s but due to differences in understanding that was why we changed parties and when we moved to ACN and you came and joined us in the APC we thought we could move away not knowing that we were moving into a big fire. 

“So I have decided to come out of the fire to where there is water. We will ensure victory for the APC; we will fight with all that we have to ensure our victory.”

Kwara State APC Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, who welcomed the new members described the move as a thoughtful and timely decision every Nigerian should make, saying APC is committed to fairness, justice and equity in Kwara and Nigeria at large.

However, the PDP chairmen in the LGs, Alhaji Issa Afon (Asa) and Alhaji Yusuf Olugbon (Ilorin West) said none of their members dumped the party for APC, noting that such is the antics of the APC.