Date: 2018-06-19

Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Magaji Ngeri Ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A 2019 governorship aspirant of PDP in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia, received the defectors in Ilorin at an event commemorating Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The defectors led by Mr Olanrewaju Mashood also known as Hajji Mansho, said they decided to pitch tent with the PDP because of the personality and intimidating credentials of the party's gubernatorial aspirant.

He said his people were confident that with the coming of Ajia into the governorship race, there was a greater hope for Kwara.

Mashood pledged support for the candidacy of Ajia, founder of Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim Foundation, who has also secured similar endorsement from youth under the auspices of the PDP as their own preferred governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

It would be recalled that the governorship hopeful was publicly adopted as the candidate of the party at a recent Kwara Youth Summit, which had in attendance party heavyweights in the state.

In a related development, women under the aegis of Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim Women Forum across Kwara Central Senatorial District have pledged their support for the governorship ambition of Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia ahead of the 2019 polls.

The women, numbering about 300, said they have been meeting and deliberating regularly to see how Ajia would emerge as candidate of the PDP and ultimately become Governor of the State.

Ajia, who expressed delight over the show of solidarity to him, said his joining the race was to restore the glory of the State of Harmony.

The governorship aspirant assured that Kwara would be returned to its pride of place if given the opportunity to serve.

He urged party faithful to work with unity of purpose and be committed to the ideal of the PDP, saying people must remain centrepiece of governance.