Claim that Kwara PDP Excos decamped to APC is misleading

A post has surfaced on social media generating reactions with regards to politics playing out in Kwara State, in North Central, Nigeria.

The Twitter post by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State said that all executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the APC.

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On their official Twitter handle, @APCKwaraState said: “Breaking: @OfficialPDPNig Kwara executives resign from party, join APC”

Verdict: Misleading

Verification: In verifying the claim, Daily Trust on Sunday searched the Twitter handle of the APC Kwara State to find out the names of the decampees but couldn’t find any.

Also, independent findings by Daily Trust on Sunday showed that although in June 2022, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party defected to the All Progressives Congress, none of them was a member of the state executive of the party. However, they were former executive members of the party.

The decampees cited the achievements of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the rationale behind their defection.

Also, it was observed that most of the decampees are members of the Kwara PDP Transformation Movement, which include former executives of the opposition party and former political office holders.

Background 

Last month, the PDP was thrown into shock as some party stalwarts decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Kwara State.

Their leader, Comrade Nurani Omoyooba, attributed their decision to leave the PDP on maltreatment and intimidation meted to them in spite of the fact that they were among PDP’s foundation members.

“We the defectors are former party executives at the ward and local government levels, former commissioners, and special assistants in the PDP government.

“We are here to announce our defection to APC, and to appreciate Gov. AbdulRazaq’s efforts in serving the Kwara masses.

“Since the last five months, Kwara PDP Transformation Movement has been running a radio programme to sensitise people on how the interest of the masses can be protected.

“We also include in our activities areas where we thought the politicians have to step up,” Omoyooba said.

He said the group also highlighted how its members were being cheated as members of Kwara PDP, “especially those of us that were in the party before Sen. Bukola Saraki returned to the party.

“These are some of the qualities we have seen in you. We checked your achievements in education, health, road and other key sectors of the economy and we found out that you have been doing well.

“May Almighty God continue to bless and guide you,” he said.

He enjoined the governor to receive them well and treat them fairly in their new party, hoping for a grand defection ceremony.

Responding, Gov. AbdulRazaq appreciated the defectors for identifying with his government and with the APC in the state.

He pointed out that their defection underscored the rising popularity of APC in Kwara and in the nation.

Gov. AbdulRazaq also told the new APC members that his administration would not relent in its efforts to continue to serve Kwara better.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the PDP in the state has not been a coordinated house since it lost the 2019 general elections that saw the emergence of  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as well as the defeat suffered by the two-time governor and former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Conclusion: Following verification by Daily Trust on Sunday, the claim that executive members of the PDP in Kwara defected to the APC is misleading as the defectors were only members of the PDP, amongst whom were former executive members and not serving ones.