Date: 2021-11-01

THE Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are at loggerheads over the reported defection of a former Minister of Transportation, Ibrahim Bio to the PDP.

Bio, who once served as the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, reportedly announced his defection to the PDP last Thursday.

While the PDP said it welcomed the former minister into its midst, the APC insisted that the family of the minister and members of his community in Baruten Local Government Council of the state, are still its members.

In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the PDP commended Bio for taking "the bold and timely decision" to join the party, saying his action reflected the wishes of the people "who are tired of the misrule of the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq APC-led administration in the state."

It added, "We are pleased to welcome former Minister Ibrahim Isa Bio and his followers into the Kwara PDP family. We applaud his voluntary, bold and timely decision to dump the retrogressive and dysfunctional APC and pitch tent with our party that is moving from strength to strength.

"As a respected community leader and experienced politician, we have no doubt that the entry of Hon. Bio to the PDP will further strengthen our party. We are confident that he will introduce valuable ideas and make significant contributions to the growth of the party.

"Our doors are wide open to other politicians who believe in the party's principles and are desirous of a new direction in 2023. We assure existing, returning and intending members of our party of equal opportunities in line with the principles of internal democracy that the Kwara PDP holds dearly."

"The repositioned Kwara PDP is poised to reclaim power from the APC and deliver good governance to the people of Kwara. We invite you to join the moving train."

In its reaction, the APC in a statement titled, 'Bio's daughter, community remain with us" issued by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Aro Folaranmi, said, "The APC remains hugely popular in the state, particularly in Baruten LG, the homestead of the former Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Bio; the entire community as well as Dr Jamila Bio, biological daughter of the former Minister who is currently serving as Senior Special Assistant on SDGs to the Governor, are fully with the APC."