By Peter Omopo | Ilorin
Former Kwara State lawmaker and prominent figure in the 2019 Otoge movement, Hon. Saheed Popoola, has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to secure the state, alleging that banditry and insecurity have worsened under his administration.
Popoola, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the accusations during his formal defection rally held in Offa on Sunday.
He claimed that under AbdulRazaq’s leadership, Kwara had witnessed an alarming rise in kidnappings and killings — a trend he described as “unprecedented since the state’s creation in 1967.”
“We have never seen banditry in Kwara since its creation. Hundreds of our people have been killed and kidnapped. Banditry existed in Niger State for years but never crossed into Kwara because previous leaders knew what they were doing,” Popoola said.
“Unfortunately, the current governor does not understand governance. He thinks only about himself and his personal interests. That’s why insecurity has taken root in Kwara today.”
The former legislator accused the governor of abandoning the ideals of the Otoge revolution, which ended PDP’s 16-year dominance in the state. He said the struggle was built on transparency, inclusivity, and collective progress — principles he claimed had now been replaced by “personal ambition and isolation.”
“When a leader isolates himself from the people, insecurity thrives. The governor abandoned the ideals of the Otoge struggle and replaced them with self-centred leadership,” he added.
Popoola also alleged that the administration had sidelined key political stakeholders and traditional leaders who could have helped tackle rising insecurity in border communities such as Patigi, Baruten, and Kaiama.
He said his decision to join the PDP followed “deep reflection” on the direction of the APC, which he accused of losing its founding values.
“I joined the PDP not as a desperate politician but as a believer in fairness, justice, and equity. The PDP remains the only viable opposition in Nigeria,” Popoola declared.
Downplaying his former rivalry with ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, Popoola said political alliances evolve, noting, “Four years ago, no one would have imagined President Tinubu and Nyesom Wike working together. So being in the same party with Saraki should not raise eyebrows.”
He expressed confidence that the PDP would reclaim power in 2027, declaring:
“The PDP is going to take over the government and governance of Kwara State in 2027.”
PDP Welcomes Popoola’s Defection
Welcoming Popoola to the party, Kwara PDP Chairman, Hon. Issa Bawa, described his return as “a homecoming,” saying it would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The AbdulRazaq administration has failed to protect lives and property. What we have seen is propaganda to cover administrative failure. Offa will rise again and be great again,” Bawa said.
Former state PDP chairman, Kola Shittu, also praised Popoola’s defection, describing him as “a grassroots leader whose influence will help mobilise support for the PDP.”
APC Defends Governor, Calls Criticism “Cheap Politics”
In a swift reaction, the Kwara State APC dismissed Popoola’s claims, describing them as “false, misleading, and politically motivated.”
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Waheed Babatunde, said the AbdulRazaq administration had “invested heavily in community policing, logistics, and intelligence support for security agencies,” stressing that the governor’s efforts had strengthened security operations across the state.
“Popoola’s defection will not affect the party. He had long distanced himself from the APC and even worked against the party in the 2023 general elections and last year’s local government polls — yet the APC won convincingly,” Babatunde stated.
Rising Security Concerns
Popoola’s outburst comes amid growing public concern over rising insecurity in parts of Kwara’s rural and border areas, especially around the Niger and Kogi boundaries, where several abductions and attacks have been reported in recent months.
While political observers see Popoola’s defection as a major development in the build-up to the 2027 elections, both the APC and PDP appear poised for a fierce battle over who controls the narrative — and ultimately, the future — of Kwara State.
