package docker.io 18.09.7-0ubuntu1~16.04led to install/upgrade: new docker.io package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1

running do-release-upgrade from 16.04.07 LTS I got the following:

Exception during pm.DoInstall(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

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ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: docker.io 18.09.7-0ubuntu1~16.04.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-210.242-generic 4.4.262
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-210-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.28
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Feb 23 08:20:00 2023
ErrorMessage: new docker.io package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-04-13 (2141 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.8)
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.9, python3-minimal, 3.6.7-1~18.04
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.17, python-minimal, 2.7.15~rc1-1
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu2.4
 apt 1.6.14
SourcePackage: docker.io
Title: package docker.io 18.09.7-0ubuntu1~16.04.7 failed to install/upgrade: new docker.io package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2023-02-23 (0 days ago)