Date: 2017-12-31

A group within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), known as the Progressive Caucus (PC), has called on the leadership of the party to investigate the alleged defection of the Special Adviser to the Senate President, Hon. Moshood Mustapha. Stories of Mustapha dumping the ruling APC for the opposition PDP went viral on social media during the week.

Rising from a meeting in Ilorin, the state capital, on Thursday, the group said the online news has caused disquiet among members of the party in Kwara State, particularly when it has not been debunked by the person involved. It therefore called on the party to look into the matter and establish the truth or otherwise of the matter in order to calm frayed nerves within the party.

"We are concerned that the leadership of our party in Kwara State has abdicated its primary roles for mundane and pedestrian moves. The personality involved is not a small fry in the party, so this story cannot be wished away for whatever reason. The party has suffered huge image battering in recent times while the leadership of the party in Kwara State appears to be on vacation.

"Since Honourable Moshood Mustapha has not denied the report or counter those claims in the online report it behoves the party to find out the true state of things from him," the statement, signed by Kayode Sullyman, said.

Efforts by The Nation to get the reaction of Hon. Mustapha to the story proved abortive as calls and text messages sent to his phone line got no response from him.