April 19, (THEWILL) — Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following weeks of consultations with political allies.
Shekarau announced his defection on Sunday at his Mumdubawa residence, Kano, alongside Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, a prominent PDP figure, before a gathering of supporters and loyalists.
Addressing the crowd, the former governor said the decision was reached after careful consideration of the available political options open to him.
He sought the opinion of those present, asking if they supported the move, and was met with unanimous approval, signalling collective endorsement of the defection.
The development comes days after the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, visited Shekarau and Gwarzo at the same residence in an effort to persuade them to return to the ruling party.
During the visit, Yilwatda appealed to both leaders to rejoin the APC, describing himself as their “son” who required their guidance and political backing.
He also called on their associates to encourage their return in the interest of unity among northern political actors.
Shekarau had, at the time, acknowledged the visit and described it as a mark of respect, noting that consultations were ongoing and any eventual decision would be guided by the interests of Kano State.
The defection also follows recent political engagements involving Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had visited Shekarau amid growing political realignments in the state.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
