Councilors and stakeholders in Ojomu/Balogun constituency of Offa local government in Kwara state have dismissed claims by the member representing the constituency in the State Assembly, Prince Saheed Popoola that his constituents prevailed on him not to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Popoola remains the only state lawmaker in the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his other 23 colleagues, including his kinsman from Offa, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The stakeholders made the clarification in a statement ย signed by five councillors and othwt stakeholders in the constituency.
They described the lawmakerโs claim as untrue and outrageous, adding that “this came as surprise and rude shock to us.”
They said that Popoola did not consult members of the constituency that elected him before he took his decision to stay back in the APC.
The five councillors who signed the statement are Hon. Ibrahim Suleyman (Ojomu Central B), Rotimi Jimoh Adekunle (Ojomu Central A), Adebisi Nureini (Ojomu North-North West), Omojasola Tunde (Ojomu South East) and Badmus Akeem (Ojomu Balogun).
Other stakeholders who signed the statement are Hon. Ibikunle Abdulwaheed and Hon. Sarafa Bakare Balogun.
The stakeholders noted that the lawmakerโs decision not to defect to the PDP was entirely his and may not be unconnected with financial inducement from the APC.
They, therefore, dissociated the entire constituency from Popoolaโs decision not to defect to the PDP, and reaffirmed their loyalty to the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the State.
