After some back and forth consultations, former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, and his supporters have joined his political rival and successor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
An unusual political marriage between the two former Governors one would say because the duo have always worked at cross purposes, however coming together against Ganduje’s seeming grip on Kano this time signals a political tsunami in the offing in the ancient city of Kano.
The signals that the table may be turning against Ganduje started manifesting when another APC chieftain Abdulmumin Jibrin dumped the party also for NNPP not minding his plum job of the spokesperson of the Tinubu campaign organization.
Again the chief of staff to Ganduje, a former speaker of the House of Assembly had dumped the APC for the NNPP.
BBC Hausa reported that Shekarau has been offered the opportunity to contest for a senate seat as the candidate of his new party.
Shekarau’s defection may have created a huge crack in Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s camp and the chances of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, as the new political marriage with Kwankwaso, the leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement, has brought to an end the week-long speculation.
Recall that in 2019 Shekarau dumped the PDP to return to the APC after Kwankwaso rejoined the PDP almost 7 days to the primary when he was offered the Senate slot.
His joining the APC fold then, was a buffer that offered the party a formidable force that ensured Ganduje’s victory against all odds in is second term as Governor.
Unveiling his intention to dump APC while briefing journalists at his residence, Wednesday, Shekarau said President Muhammadu Buhari and APC leaders, who were aware of the predicaments of the party in Kano, failed to resolve it, compelling them to quit the party.
The decision to quit APC, he added, followed large consultation of the Shura under his watch from the local council in which 80 per cent of the electorate resolved to join the new but fast-growing NNPP.
The former governor had alleged that he was sidelined by the APC government under Ganduje in terms of appointments, local council elections and the party congresses in the state among other contentions that culminated in his decision to part ways with the incumbent.
Shekarau was earlier issued the NNPP senatorial ticket by Kwankwaso, who had worked assiduously to convince him to join NNPP.