One of the groups in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, the Kwara Redemption Movement (KRM), has formally aligned its structure with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking at a gathering of members and supporters of the political group in Ilorin on Saturday, chairman of the KRM, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, said the decision to join ADC was borne out of the need to provide people with a credible political alternative capable of challenging the current administration in the state.

“The political landscape in Kwara state is heading for a major shake-up and the move is a defining moment in the struggle for genuine governance in the state,” he said.

Oyedepo, a former lawmaker and commissioner in the state, described the event as “a turning point and defining moment in the politics of Kwara State,” saying that the state had experienced “same situation dressed in different attires” for years.

According to Oyedepo, KRM was initially conceived to operate within the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the internal structure of the party in Kwara left little room for alternative voices.

“At inception, it was to operate mainly within the APC. But as APC became a one-man and family- dominated party in Kwara state, there was the need to look for another platform to accommodate alternative views and stand on Kwara politics,” he said.

The KRM chairman, who said that ideals of the Otooge movement had been compromised by those who benefited from it, added that there was no effective internal mechanism to check what he termed misgovernance in the state.

“The inheritors of the Otoge struggle have made nonsense of what we fought for. Virtually all what we fought against are being manifested in the present system”.

He also said that the movement, formed in February 2024, was driven by a clear objective to refocus Kwara politics towards accountability and people-oriented development.

“For the two years of the existence of KRM, we have raised the level of political consciousness using radio programmes as tools of sensitisation,” he said.

With its transition into ADC, Oyedepo said a broad-based coalition is emerging in Kwara state, comprising members drawn from various political platforms including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), APC and other groups.

“With our joining forces with ADC, a rainbow coalition is hereby formed. We have decided to move together as people with one purpose: to defeat the incumbent government and install a government that is driven by an altruistic purpose.”

He described ADC as a credible third-force alternative in Kwara, revealing that KRM has built a membership base of over 20,000 across the state. He directed all registered members of the movement to immediately commence registration under the ADC platform.

“To those that believe that today is not better than yesterday, ADC is a credible third force alternative in Kwara,” he said.

Oyedepo also sent a message to the current administration, saying the new coalition would scrutinise government actions and policies.

“These in government should be ready for a good engagement on everything they have done since being elected,” he warned.

He assured Kwarans that the new alliance would unveil what he called a liberating agenda focused squarely on the real needs of the people.

“We are concerned about the Kwara state before, we shall now be concerned about Nigeria,” Oyedepo said, expressing confidence that the new political direction would restore hope and accountability in the state. (Nigerian Tribune)