The senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Saliu Mustapha, is reportedly considering defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sources close to the senator and within the PDP told The PUNCH on Monday that discussions surrounding a possible move had intensified in recent days, although no final decision has been announced.

Mustapha's reported consideration of the PDP follows his defeat in the APC governorship primary, his failure to secure the party's Kwara Central senatorial ticket and reported disagreements within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

It was gathered that the PDP could consider offering Mustapha its Kwara Central senatorial ticket if he eventually joins the party. Such a move would potentially set up a direct contest with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is the APC senatorial candidate for the district.

The speculation gained further attention after a statement attributed to the PDP's Kwara Central senatorial candidate, Yinka Otukoko, suggested that the ticket could be given to either Mustapha or former lawmaker Moshood Mustapha.

However, the Kwara State PDP dismissed the statement, saying Otukoko's WhatsApp account had reportedly been compromised.

The party's Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, said the statement did not represent the position of either Otukoko or the PDP.

"Please discard such submissions. It wasn't from Otukoko, nor is it our party's position. I understand Otukoko's WhatsApp was hacked at a point recently and this may have been responsible for the misleading narratives," Adewara said.

Despite the denial, political discussions around a possible Mustapha defection have continued, with sources claiming that different options are being considered.

A PDP source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said conversations involving the senator were ongoing but stressed that the situation remained fluid.

"Conversations are going on, but the situation is still fluid. Saliu is weighing his options, and several people are talking to him," the source said.

The source added that the issue went beyond the outcome of the APC governorship primary, noting concerns over Mustapha's political future and the Kwara Central senatorial seat.

The speculation was also fuelled by a recent meeting between Mustapha and former Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Ilorin International Airport, although the purpose of the meeting and whether it was connected to the reported PDP move could not be independently established.

An Ilorin-based public affairs analyst, Abdulrasaq Olanrewaju, said a possible alliance between Mustapha and the PDP could significantly alter the political calculations in Kwara Central.

He noted that if Mustapha eventually joins the PDP and secures its senatorial ticket, the move could strengthen the opposition party by bringing together political structures and influential figures ahead of the 2027 elections.

"For the APC, such a realignment could have serious consequences, especially if it loses influential figures and structures. For the PDP, bringing these forces together could strengthen its numerical advantage ahead of 2027," Olanrewaju said.

Meanwhile, efforts by The PUNCH to obtain reactions from the APC and Senator Mustapha were unsuccessful as of press time.

A source in Mustapha's camp, however, confirmed that "different options are being considered" but declined to say whether the senator had made a final decision on joining the PDP.