Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mustapha formally announced his resignation from the ruling party on Friday, citing recent developments within the Kwara APC and saying the decision followed weeks of consultations with constituents, supporters and political stakeholders.
In his resignation letter, the senator said his decision was not taken lightly and reflected his belief that political platforms should remain consistent with the interests and aspirations of the people.
“While my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged,” Mustapha said.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership for the relationships and experience he gained during his time with the party.
The move became more significant when the senator secured the PDP’s ticket to contest the Kwara Central senatorial seat in 2027, only hours after announcing his departure from the APC. The development has altered the political calculations in the district ahead of the next election.
Mustapha’s defection follows disagreements within the Kwara APC. He had contested the party’s governorship primary in May but lost the ticket to Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Danladi-Salihu.
The development is important because Mustapha’s movement could strengthen the PDP’s position in Kwara Central and intensify competition ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections.
Despite changing parties, Mustapha has said his political support for President Tinubu remains intact, indicating that his defection should not necessarily be interpreted as opposition to the President’s 2027 re-election bid.
The senator’s move is part of a wider wave of political realignments across Nigeria as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
