Commercial activities and vehicular movement were brought to a complete standstill across Offa Local Government Area on Saturday as over 2,500 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) formally defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing political exclusion and developmental neglect under the current state administration.
The massive procession, which began at Iyeru Primary School, saw major roads leading to the venue blocked by thousands of supporters chanting pro PDP slogans, effectively grounding economic and social activities across the township.
The defectors, drawn from across all 12 political wards in Offa, were received by the Kwara South PDP Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Prince Saheed Olamilekan Popoola, alongside the newly appointed Kwara South PDP Senatorial Chairman, Engr. Justus Sayo Amos, and other prominent party chieftains.
Addressing the gathering, Engr. Justus Sayo Amos assured residents that a PDP administration would prioritize tangible community infrastructure, direct democratic dividends, and effective security interventions to combat rising insecurity across Kwara South.
“We will not do ‘AI road construction’ if elected in 2027,” Amos added, emphasizing that public infrastructure under a PDP government would deliver measurable, real-world benefits rather than serving as digital or artificial political showpieces.
Welcoming the new members, PDP Kwara State House of Assembly candidates for Offa; Hon. Lukman Adeyemi (Ojomu/Balogun Constituency) and Hon. Ganiyu Lukman Ola (Essa/Shawo/Igbo-Idun Constituency) both described the influx of defectors as a pivotal shift toward accountable leadership and grassroots political change ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the defecting group, Hon. Adekola Mubarak Tadenikawo (FBB) accused the APC leadership of running a one-man show, poor leadership with no notable achievements in governance across state.
“The APC under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has become nothing to write home about, with decisions taken by a few individuals without consultation, leading to zero leadership capacity,” he added.
Receiving the decampees, Kwara South PDP Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Prince Saheed Popoola described the overwhelming turnout and street-level gridlock as a decisive rejection of political exclusion and retrogressive policies, assuring all incoming members of equal rights, full integration into the party’s structures, and a collaborative approach to governance.
Prominent party leaders in attendance included Kwara South PDP Senatorial Woman Leader, Chief Mrs. Margaret Abegunde; National President of Orisun Igbomina, Chief Awoyale Gbenga; PDP Offa Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jide Jatto; and Alhaji Idris Oluokewa, among others.