Ibrahim Shekarau
By Our Correspondent
Former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Senator, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo alongside thousand of their supporters have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following weeks of consultations with political allies.
Addressing the crowd, the former governor said the decision was reached after careful consideration of the available political options.
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.
Recall that , 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.
Hotpen reports that, 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.
Shekarau announced the move on Sunday at his residence in Kano, alongside Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, a prominent PDP figure, during a gathering attended by supporters and loyalists.
