Date: 2018-07-30

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, 23 members of the Kwara State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tomorrow, The Herald can exclusively report.

The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, is expected to lead 22 other colleagues in the defection plans.

However, it could not be confirmed last night whether Hon. Saheed Popoola, a member representing Ojomu/Balogun Constituency of Offa Local Government Area in the House, would switch to the opposition party as planned by others.

Popoola has been seen lately to be keeping to himself since his return to the hallowed chamber after last year ill-fated accident involving him and his brother in Offa.

It was gathered that he might not follow other lawmakers planning to deflect to the PDP, because he is believed to be hobnobbing with a faction of the APC in the state.

The lawmakers planned defection, it was learnt, was in response to the agitation from their constituents that they were no longer comfortable being in the ruling APC.

A source told The Herald last night that the defection plans would have taken place last Thursday but for absence of some lawmakers during the plenary session.

Another source, a fiery lawmaker from Kwara South, who craved anonymity, confirmed the defection plans in an exclusive chat with The Herald last night.

Going by arrangement in place, members are expected to take turns individually to announce their defection from the APC to the PDP at tomorrow's plenary.

The Herald reports that the planned defection of lawmakers in the state House of Assembly is coming barely one week after eight members of the National Assembly from Kwara State announced their defection from APC to PDP.

The lawmaker, who spoke in confidence last night, said his colleagues had perfected plans to dump APC barring any change in plans, insisting that the leadership of the ruling party had not treated others who joined in forming it fairly.

He stated that there was no justification to continue in the party that had decided to treat other co-travellers like strangers.

"I don't think any responsible politicians like us here will want to continue their membership of the APC. We don't have any reason to be in a house where you are not wanted. It amounts to waste of precious time while those who value and see you as a great asset are beckoning on you. We are like strangers in APC.

"As you can see, the leadership of the APC at the national level had not been fair to us and they have not treated us well. They have suddenly forgotten that we joined them in forming the party in 2013. Some of them are saying we are inconsequential, but let us wait and see what happens.

"We have concluded plans to announce our defection to PDP last Thursday during the sitting but because some members were not around, we could not proceed. By Tuesday (tommorow), people would surely know where we are going. That is our plans except we get a signal that we should tarry awhile", the lawmaker said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Saheed Popoola, could not be reached for comment last night about the defection plans of members.

The Herald recalls that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had disclosed that he might dump the APC because of what he described as injustice in the party.

He spoke at a meeting with stakeholders held at Banquet Hall of Government House in Ilorin.