Briefing newsmen on Monday in Ilorin, Basambo said his decision was to form a stronger alliance with the PDP and wrest power from the APC administration.
The LP flag bearer said the APC administration had performed below expectation and could not deliver the “greater Kwara of our dream”.
He called on his supporters across the board in all local governments and wards to cast their votes for Yaman, saying, “We have both decided to work together as a team to provide the true leadership needed to make Kwara a greater state.”
Reacting, the Kwara State Chairman of LP, Comrade Lanre Ajiboye, blasted Basambo over the move and described him as a traitor who was seeking to take advantage of the party.
In a telephone chat with our correspondent, Ajiboye said, “That guy is just a fool of himself, a traitor and an imposter who came to take advantage of the party. But we will respond appropriately. This is not the true state of what the party stands for. We cannot be in court and be adopting an opposition. We are not and will never work with the PDP.”
However, the PDP in Kwara State has hailed the decision of the LP candidate, describing it as a welcome development.
The PDP chairman in the state, Kola Shittu, said the decision was a demonstration of the strength of the party and its readiness to defeat the ruling APC in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
“We welcome the decision of the LP candidate to step down for our candidate. This is a sign of the growing confidence in our party and our candidate. We will work together to ensure that we deliver victory for the PDP in the state,” he said.
He called on other opposition parties in the state to join forces with the PDP to defeat the APC in the coming election.
The Kwara State APC, however, dismissed the LP/PDP alliance, saying it was an act of desperation.
The party’s spokesman, Tajudeen Aro, said, “The LP candidate has the right to step down for anybody, but he should do it with dignity. Aligning with the PDP, which has nothing to offer, is not the solution. We are confident that the people of Kwara State will continue to support our party and our candidate, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has demonstrated his commitment to the development of the state.”