This was Mohammed’s response to some of his followers in Kwara State defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Some of the Minister’s followers in the Kwara APC recently defected to the SDP over the party’s dominance battle between Lai Mohammed and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, which has caused a crisis in the state chapter.

Despite the defection, Mohammed stated in a personally signed statement that he is not planning or even considering leaving the APC.

He also appealed to those who dumped the ruling party to return as there is no place like home.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to media reports on the alleged defection of some of my supporters in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“On my part, as a founding member of the APC, as someone who has toiled endlessly to build the party, and as one who has worked with stakeholders to deliver Kwara State to the APC, leaving the party is not an option.

“I am a bonafide member of the APC and I have no intention of leaving the party.

“All through my political career, I have always remained loyal to any party in which I have found myself. That is not about to change now.”

Addressing those who have defected for one reason or the other, the Minister called on them to find their way back to the party.

He urged the party leadership to also address grievances that may make members leave or consider leaving the APC.

He stated: “I want to use this opportunity to once again call on the leadership of our party to urgently and decisively address the issues that have forced some members of our party in Kwara to contemplate leaving the party.

“I wish to state categorically that despite the fact that the supporters are genuinely aggrieved at the way and manner they have been treated by the Kwara Governor and his supporters, against the backdrop of their immeasurable contributions to the massive victory of our party in the state in 2019, leaving the party is not the solution.

“We have taken the grievances of our supporters to the highest level of our party and we have cause to believe that everything will be done to address the grievances and unite the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

“I am therefore appealing to those who may have left to reconsider their stand and return to their natural habitat.”