4 Shocks In 4 Weeks: Musa Audu Dumps PDP In Kwara’s Latest Political Bombshell
For the fourth time in September 2026, the Kwara State political landscape has been rocked by a truly shocking defection.
Although politicians often change parties in the county, the recent defections however involved close allies and fierce past critics who have switched sides with ease, this shift has changed the power balance in the State of Harmony
It all started with Chief Gbenga Awoyale, an indigene of Arandun, Irepodun local government..
As the main coordinator and public face of Prince Lekan Adewoye’s campaign organization ahead of the Kwara South APC senate primary, his sudden departure sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
Chief Awoyale blindsided his political ally and friend, Prince Lekan Adewoye, dumped the ruling APC, and returned to the PDP fold to rejoin the ‘Saraki political family’.
This U-turn stunned political pundits who never believed that he would ever abandon the ‘senate project’ let alone sing the praises of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, a man he had before now criticized and called unprintable names across electronics, online, and print media.
Chief Gbenga Awoyale officially resigned from the APC on September 2, 2026. He has also visited Dr Saraki in Abuja.
The businessman-turned-politician is no stranger to high-stakes political maneuvering. He first rose to prominence in the state during Dr Bukola Saraki’s governorship by establishing ‘Orisun Igbomina’. The group had come into being with the purpose of tackling ‘Omo Ibile Igbomina’ which the then Minister of Communications, late Chief C.O. Adebayo, and other critics had used in fighting the Saraki administration.
Awoyale had worked in conjunction with the then Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin.
Awoyale’s resignation from APC has now set off a rapid-fire series of high-profile defections.
Hon. Moshood Mustapha, a highly influential politician in the state, was one of the few who had the ear of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq before ‘things fell apart’. Their relationship turned sour following disagreements on a number of issues. The situation deteriorated further with a court case that is still ongoing, prompting many Kwarans to think they would never return to the good old days.
The former reps member had ended his membership of APC and sought for a new political party.
In a striking turn of events, Hon Moshood Mustapha, who is the Wakilin of Ilorin, not only returned to the ‘Saraki political family’ but was also immediately recognized as a major stakeholder and he was a member of the two-man delegation that announced the choice of Engineer Sulaiman Bola Kale Kawu as the state PDP gubernatorial candidate at the state secretariat of the party weeks ago.
Islamic clerics had previously made unsuccessful attempts to settle the rift between Hon Mustapha and Governor Abdulrazaq at an event in Ilorin a few months ago but it only had dramatic scenes created. Yet, against the odds, Hon. Mustapha and the governor are now political soul mates. The former federal lawmaker, who once sought to frustrate Governor Abdulrazaq’s 2027 senate bid, is now actively working to make it a reality.
But before anyone could take a breather from that twist, another surprise development surfaced.
Hon. Kehinde Bayode, a former Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) chairman in Ekiti Local Government, announced his resignation from the APC. The former LG chairman, who was fiercely loyal to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was a heavily feared figure who could go physical with anyone who criticizes Governor Abdulrazaq and this had made many describe him as a political thug.
The ultimate political surprise unfolded on Thursday when the resignation letter of Dr. Audu Idowu Musa surfaced online. Many found it unimaginable that Dr. Audu Musa and Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki could part ways, leading some people to speculate that mutual friends may soon intervene to reconcile them.
For years now, Dr. Musa had been deeply committed to the Saraki family and the ‘political dynasty’. He was a major financier of the Olusola Saraki Educational Foundation, which however became largely inactive after he was appointed to head the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation.
Sources told Team@orientactualmags.com that Dr. Musa has resigned from the PDP and effectively distanced himself from the Saraki political camp out of grievances over the outcomes of the party’s primaries in the state especially that of Irepodun/Isin/Oke-ero/Ekiti federal constituency
He felt incensed that he was passed over for the Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero PDP reps nomination and also complained that the ‘Ekiti axis’ of the federal constituency was not allowed to enjoy the privilege of producing the party’s reps candidate.
Recall that Dr. Audu Musa, Dr. Harry Ilori, and two others had sought for Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero PDP reps nomination, but none were successful.
Dr. Musa reportedly complained that Chief Joseph Gbenga Obanla, who has gotten nominated for reps, had originally sought for Kwara South PDP Senate nomination and was never a House of Representatives aspirant.
Insiders, however, disclosed that majority of party leaders had opposed Dr. Musa’s candidacy and they had reportedly communicated their reservations directly to Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, citing his strictly technocratic approach to political issues.
Dr. Audu Musa ended his membership of PDP in a letter sent to the chairman of the party in Koro Ward, Ekiti local government on Thursday which was dated September 24, 2026.
‘I hereby tender my resignation as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect’ Dr Musa Audu, who cited ‘conviction for justice, equity and fairness for my people’ submitted in his Letter of Resignation--Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
