Kwara PDP deputy gov candidate in 2023 dumps party

The Kwara State deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, has announced his resignation from the party.  Makanjuola, a two-time House of Representatives member and former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the 8th Senate, Bukola Saraki, did not give any official […]

The Kwara State deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, has announced his resignation from the party. 

Makanjuola, a two-time House of Representatives member and former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the 8th Senate, Bukola Saraki, did not give any official reason for his decision.

The notice to quit the opposition party was contained in a letter dated July 30, addressed to the ward chairman in Irepodun LGA of the state. He also copied the state chairman of the party, Hon. Babatunde Mohammed.

Makanjuola, a long-standing ally of Saraki, “Thanked God for the journey so far and the leadership of the party at the ward, council, and state levels for the opportunity,” part of the letter read.

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His ward chairman, Sola Alaja, who confirmed the resignation to Daily Trust yesterday, said, “When I saw the letter, I asked why, but he said he wants to take a break for now. He said he was not joining another party yet.”

Reacting to the issue, the state PDP publicity secretary, Olusegun Adewara, told our correspondent that the party was “disappointed but not moved” by the development.

“PDP will continue to progress because we are building the party around people, not individuals. For now, we don’t know whether he is quitting politics or joining another party. But if he is contemplating the All Progressives Congress (APC), that will be laughable.

“I don’t think the party or our leader, Dr Bukola Saraki, has offended him, and he has not come out to complain about anything. 

“What is clear is that the party has invested so much in him and gave him two deputy governorship tickets repeatedly at the expense of others. But there is no cause for alarm at all,” he said.