Mashood Mustapha Dumps APC, Returns to PDP, Says “The Journey Begins”

Former governorship aspirant and political heavyweight in Kwara State, Mashood Mustapha, has formally announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), bringing an end to his 12-year membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement titled “The Journey Begins,” delivered on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Mustapha described his move as a necessary political decision driven by the need to rescue Kwara State from what he termed poor governance and growing hardship under the current administration.

Mustapha, the Wakilin of Ilorin Emirate, said he committed his time, resources, and loyalty to the APC since its formation in 2014, believing in its promise to deliver a better Kwara. However, he said the reality has fallen short of expectations.

According to him, the suffering of the people and the party’s inability to manage internal disagreements informed his decision to part ways with the ruling party.
He also alleged political persecution within the APC, revealing that his property worth over one billion naira was demolished and that he faced intimidation for speaking out on issues affecting the state.

Reflecting on the 2019 “Otoge” political movement that led to the defeat of the PDP in Kwara, Mustapha said many of those who made sacrifices for the movement have now experienced what he described as betrayal.
He noted that his political journey after APC led him to align with the Kwara Redemption Movement (KRM), a political movement formed in 2024 by concerned citizens across the 193 wards in the state.

Mustapha disclosed that although KRM later adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform in February 2026, he declined to fully commit after observing what he described as the party’s lack of structure, preparedness, and unity needed to win elections.

After what he described as wide consultations across Alanamu Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area, and the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State, Mustapha said he concluded that the PDP remains the most viable opposition platform to challenge the APC and reposition the state.

Describing his return to the PDP as a “homecoming” rather than a defection, Mustapha recalled that he was an active member of the party between 2003 and 2014 before joining the APC.
He expressed confidence that with unity and collective effort, the opposition can reclaim power and deliver the kind of governance Kwarans desire.

His return to the PDP is expected to reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections in Kwara State, particularly as opposition parties intensify efforts to challenge the ruling APC.