The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ubandawaki Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, has debunked claims that some of its members recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the purported defection as politically contrived.
The ward leadership said no recognised PDP member in the community has left the party for the APC, accusing the ruling party of attempting to create a false impression of growing support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the PDP, the alleged defection was a response to what it described as the APC’s declining popularity in Ubandawaki and the growing acceptance of the opposition party among residents.
The party said APC leaders in the ward have been making efforts to woo back some of the members who recently joined the PDP but had allegedly failed in their attempts.
“Rather than face the reality on the ground, the APC has resorted to staging phantom defections to please their master, who has clearly lost the goodwill and confidence of the people,” the PDP said.
The statement was jointly signed by the PDP Ubandawaki Ward Chairman, Alhaji Moshood Ahmed Kayode, and the Ward Secretary, Hon. Mubaraq Adi.
The party leadership described the reported defection as “falsehood and a carefully choreographed narration,” insisting that the APC had no genuine basis for claiming that PDP members had joined its ranks.
“We received with disdain the falsehood being circulated about the purported defection of PDP members to the APC in Ubandawaki Ward. Let it be stated clearly that no member of the PDP in Ubandawaki Ward defected to the APC,” the statement said.
The PDP further alleged that the Ubandawaki Ward Councillor and the Ilorin West Local Government Chairman, whom it identified as a native of the ward, had been “running helter-skelter” following the movement of some APC members into the PDP.
It claimed that several of the new PDP members had resisted repeated attempts by APC leaders to persuade them to return to the party.
The opposition party said the development demonstrated what it described as increasing confidence in the PDP as residents prepare for the 2027 elections.
“They should stop deceiving themselves. Staging defections and parading people for political photographs will not change the reality that the APC has become an increasingly rejected and unpopular party in Kwara State,” it added.
The ward leadership also maintained that the PDP remained united and continued to welcome members of the APC and other political parties who were dissatisfied with the current political direction in the state.
It expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections, saying the alleged defection would not affect its strength in Ubandawaki or across Kwara State.
“They can continue to deceive themselves with staged defections, but reality will soon set in. The PDP is firmly positioned and coasting to victory in the 2027 elections across Kwara State,” the statement declared.
The PDP also criticised the APC’s governorship candidate, SYD, alleging that he was widely perceived as an extension of the incumbent administration.
“No amount of propaganda or staged defection will rescue their unpopular governorship candidate, SYD, who is generally seen as a puppet of the governor and an attempt to reinforce the failure and poor governance associated with the administration of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,” the party said.
The PDP subsequently challenged the APC to stop what it described as the manufacture of defections and instead confront the political realities in Ubandawaki and other parts of Kwara State.
It insisted that the people were increasingly looking towards the PDP as an alternative for what it described as responsible governance ahead of the 2027 polls.
