Date: 2019-03-19

Mr Biola Faronbi, an APC chieftain in Kwara has called for the election of Saheed Popoola, incumbent member representing Ojomu Balogun Constituency in Offa as Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly (KSHA).

Faronbi made the call on Tuesday in Abuja in a statement made available to newsmen.

Faronbi, the spokesperson for some APC stakeholders in Kwara said in the statement that Popoola was a loyal party man that needed encouragement.

Popoola is an incumbent member of the KSHA, representing Ojomu Balogun Constituency in Offa.

Faronbi said that Popoola was the only House of Assembly member in the state that refused to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when Sen. Bukola Saraki led others from the APC in 2018.

He said that such loyalty should not go unrewarded; adding that Popoola was needed to bring stability and trust to the APC led administration in the state.

He said that 23 of the 24-members of KSHA, including principal officers in 2018 defected to the PDP from the APC; the only member remaining to the party in the state was Popoola.

"Popoola told us that he did not decamp because he obeyed his constituents who are against it, adding that the APC will always remain the party to beat in his constituency.

"They made the overtures to me go to PDP, and I needed to consult with my constituency, and after the consultations, I was told to stay back in APC and not to follow them to PDP.

"So, I don't have any other choice than to heed the voice of my constituency who put me here," he said.

Faronbi said that such unwavering loyalty irrespective of the existing zoning arrangement must be compensated.

"This will encourage others to be loyal and committed to the party," he said.