Hundreds of youth and women supporters of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki trooped out on Thursday in a rally around major parts of Ilorin, Kwara state to drum support for his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They insisted that Saraki would always win any election in the state notwithstanding the political platform he chooses to use.
“In Kwara, Saraki is our political party and we shall always vote for his party and candidates”, spokesman for the youths, Yakub Haruna Kannike told newsmen at the entrance gate of the Government House where the over three hours peaceful rally terminated.Kannike added that Saraki has been tested and trusted by Kwarans and does not need to be in any political party to win elections in the state adding that Saraki is the only political party in Kwara.
The demonstrators challenged Saraki’s opponents on the need to show more commitments to the well-being of people of the state rather than being seasonal politicians.
…16 Kwara LG chairmen dump APC
All the 16 local government chairmen in Kwara State who were elected on the platform of the APC have officially announced their defection to the PDP.
The state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Joshua Omokanye who is also the chairman of Isin Local Government during a meeting held at their secretariat said their decision was supported by Section 109 (1) (g) and was therefore not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Omokanye noted that the defection all political office holders at the third tier of government was affected by the defection.
He said this included council chairmen, vice chairmen, speakers, secretaries, supervisory councillors, the 193 elected councillors and other political appointees in the state.
“It is our collective resolve to join the PDP as the worthy alternative platform to further our political careers and work for the advancement of the generality of our people. Since we are welcomed by the party, we have no doubt it wouldn’t be like the conglomeration of strange bedfellows that APC had been in the last four years,” he said.
…constituents disowns Saheed Popoola
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 signed by five councillors and other stakeholders in the constituency where they also pledged loyalty to Dr Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
They described the lawmaker’s 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.
