The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State on Monday expressed its willingness to welcome into its fold, the sister of its leader and one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Senator Gbemi Saraki, if she finally decides to dump the PDP.
The Kwara APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, in an interview with journalists, said Saraki’s defection would be a welcome development to APC.
He, however, said she had yet to officially inform the APC of her intention to defect.
The APC’s comment came on the heels of speculations that the former senator was planning to dump PDP because of the alleged unfair treatment she received in the party.
Buhari said, “We will gladly receive her. It will be a good development for her to defect. However, she has yet to consult us at the party level. Everything is still in the realms of rumour.
“If the politician decides to come to APC she is welcomed. APC is a larger house that can accommodate everybody. It is good for her to make up her mind at the appropriate time. It is clear to all in the state and the entire country that APC is the party to beat in the forthcoming elections. Nobody wants to belong to a sinking party like the PDP”.
But the state PDP Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Razaq, said the party is still urging Saraki not to defect to APC.
According to Razak, it might not be a good political decision for her to defect to APC having invested significantly in PDP.
Razaq said, “At this critical time in the life of our party in the state, we believe that all hands must be on deck to sustain the party and lead it to victory in the forthcoming polls.
“As a party, we believe Senator Gbemi Saraki has made invaluable contributions and sacrifices for the PDP in the state and beyond. We particularly noted her maturity and sportsmanship before, during and after the party primaries, which produced distinguished Senator Simeon Ajibola as the party’s governorship candidate for the April 11 governorship election in the state.
“It would therefore be sad if such an individual, who has immensely uplifted the party in the state, abandons the house she has built at its time of need. This is Kwara PDP’s time of need and we urge Senator Saraki to remain in the party and see through the struggle for the liberation of the masses”.