Ex-Kano Governor, Shekarau Set To Dump NNPP After Only Two Months, Meets PDP For ‘Juicy Offers’
Only two months after joining the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, reportedly decided to leave the party and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to individuals who spoke to Daily Nigerian, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, promised him some “irresistible offers” that allegedly led to his defection plot.
In a letter read aloud by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on June 29, the former education minister and current senator from Kano Central Senatorial District formally left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his newfound love, the NNPP, according to SaharaReporters.
The paper reported that despite Shekarau securing the automatic senatorial ticket of NNPP, he lobbed the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, to be his running mate during a meeting in Lagos on June 24.
It was gathered the talks with Labour Party collapsed after APC and PDP leaders began efforts to woo the former governor into their fold.
When NNPP leaders learnt about Shekarau’s planned defection, a 3-man delegation comprising the NNPP governorship candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, the senatorial candidate of Kano South, Kawu Sumaila, and a candidate of House of Representatives Kabiru Rurum, sought audience with him on Friday night in Abuja, but Shekarau refused to see them.
Credible sources familiar with Shekarau’s clandestine moves and separate meetings with the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; his running-mate Ifeanyi Okowa and; the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, said the former governor had “reached a deal” with the PDP and is expected to formally announce his defection soon.
The Shura Consultative Assembly meeting held on Sunday August 14, 2022 at Shekarau’s Mundubawa residence.
According to an insider, the former governor on Sunday summoned an emergency meeting of his political advisory council, dubbed the Shura Consultative Assembly, and informed the members about the latest development.
The paper said that a 21-member committee will meet on Tuesday (today) at 4pm to finalise the defection arrangements and ways to manage public criticisms that may trail Shekarau’s unexpected political detour.
A source familiar with the meeting said as part of the exit plans, the presidential candidate of PDP Atiku Abubakar will come to Shekarau’s Mundubawa residence to “woo” him before the formal announcement.
“The truth is that Atiku has made some mouth-watering offers such as ministerial and parastatal slots to Mallam. This is in addition to appointing him as the North West campaign coordinator and in charge of campaign finances in the region,” said the insider.
