In a move that has sent ripples through the Kwara State political landscape, Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has officially resigned his membership from the party.

The exit was formalized in a resignation letter dated Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and addressed to the SDP leadership in Magaji Aare Ward I, Ilorin. Lawal, the son of the late former Kwara State Governor Mohammed Lawal, cited "wide-ranging consultations and careful reflection" as the reasons for his departure.

In his letter, Lawal expressed profound gratitude to the party and its state chairman, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Afolabi, for the opportunity to fly the SDP flag during the last general election, describing the experience as an "invaluable political exposure."

"This move became necessary to reassess my political direction in the broader interest of my supporters and the aspirations we collectively represent," Lawal stated.

While the official letter was silent on his next move, high-level political sources have confirmed to The Informant247 that the Idi-Ape-born politician is finalized plans to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawal had originally left the APC in April 2022 following internal party frictions, but current realignments ahead of the 2027 elections suggest a reconciliation with the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led structure.

His resignation is seen as a major blow to the SDP in Kwara, as he was a central figure in the party's 2023 campaign and remains a significant influence in Ilorin's political circle.