Date: 2018-10-30

Membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State continued to swell as about 500 card carrying members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday joined the ruling party.

The decampees from the APC said their decision to join the PDP followed the nomination of the party's state secretary, Alhaji Rasaq Lawal as the House of Representatives candidate for Asa/Ilorin West constituency. The new entrants into the PDP who are from Oko Erin, Badari And Wara Osin wards of Ilorin West local government area were received by Lawal and other prominent members the party, including Hon. Bola Aluko, Hon. AbdulKadir Oba Aluko and Alhaji Abdullah. The spokesman of the decampees, Mr Adebayo Dare said, "Our decision to join the PDP was borne out of the fact that Hon. Rasaq Lawal is a tested and trusted individual whose antecedent is too visible to ignore. We cannot continue to remain in a party without leadership. Today, it's clear that APC is a sinking ship in Kwara." Another leader of the former APC members, Mr Adebayo Kayode said, "We have been in the wilderness and like sheep without a shepherd. But thank God we are now back to a place that has good leadership under our amiable national leader of the PDP and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki." A female member of the group, Mrs Awotunde Iya Gold, in her remarks pledged their total support for Hon. Rasaq Lawal and other PDP candidates for next year's general elections. Responding, Lawal, assured the decampees of equal opportunities with the existing PDP members in the state. He promised them of quality representation at the National Assembly with total commitment to their socio economic development.