By Isaac Samuel
Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after weeks of consultations.
Shekarau announced his defection alongside Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, a chieftain of the PDP, at a gathering held on Sunday at his residence, known as Mundubawa Palace, in Kano.
Addressing supporters, the former governor said the decision was reached after extensive consultations and a careful review of political options.
“We have weighed all the options and arrived at this collective resolution. Do you all agree?” he asked, inviting dissenting views.
The crowd responded with unanimous approval, affirming the move.
The defection comes days after the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, visited Shekarau and Gwarzo at the same residence in a bid to woo them back to the ruling party ahead of future elections.
During the visit, Yilwatda appealed to both leaders to return to the APC, describing himself as their “son” in need of their guidance and political backing.
He also urged their allies to persuade them to rejoin the party in the interest of unity among northern political actors.
Responding at the time, Shekarau commended the APC chairman for the visit, describing it as a mark of respect and commitment, but maintained that consultations were ongoing and no immediate decision would be taken.
He stressed that any political decision would be guided by the interests of Kano State.
The move also comes amid recent political engagements in the state, including a visit by Abba Kabir Yusuf to Shekarau at his residence, as political realignments intensify in Kano.
