2023: Kwankwaso confirms Shekarau’s move to dump NNPP

Former Commissioner for Rural Development in Kano, Musa Illiasu Kwankwaso, has confirmed the plan by former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speculation around the orchestrated move by the senator representing Kano Central to dump his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) dominated the public domain yesterday after an online newspaper exposed Shekarau’s strange romance with the presidential candidate of PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar.

According to the expose, Senator Shekarau was reported to have held meetings with Atiku and the PDP leadership who are desperate to reclaim Kano from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Shekarau, who formerly declared his defection from APC on the floor of the senate two months ago, for his new political party, was reported to have settled to dump NNPP for succulent opportunities in PDP.

Shekarau had serially jumped from opposition party to ruling party in the past while seeking political relevance. The former education minister and founding member of APC defected to PDP during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Malam Shekarau returned to APC after parting ways with Kwankwaso and muscled powers with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje against Kwankwaso. Again, Shekarau defected to NNPP to reunite with Kwankwaso after parting ways with Ganduje until the present speculation.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kwankwaso, a close associate of Shekarau, revealed that his plan to dump NNPP had already been concluded for his selfish interest. Kwankwaso disclosed that just like Shekarau, the presidential candidate of NNPP Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was equally perfecting plans to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

Kwankwaso, who is first cousin to Senator Rabiun Musa Kwankwaso, stressed that the defection of Shekarau should not be a surprise because both political giants cannot work together as a team.

“It is true that Malam had meetings with Atiku, planning to return to PDP to form an alliance against the ruling party and if the move is successful, Malam Shekarau would finally leave NNPP next week. And, I can also confirm to you that Rabiu Kwankwaso is also in mutual discussion with Tinubu and if that is successful, Kwankwaso too will support the APC presidential candidate and by next week, everything would be cleared.

“But what I want to assure Nigerians is, Kwankwaso and Shekarau can never work together in one party. You can quote me anywhere even, if they decided to come together they would not end well. But whatever the permutation I can assure you, it would be an added advantage to Tinubu. Both of them are more interested in their political ambition no more no less,” Kwankwaso declared.

Reacting to the speculation, the spokesperson to Malam Shekarau, Dr. Sule Yau, who urged the public to disregard the news making the round about his principal’s defection, noted that the true picture of the development will unfold in days to come.

In his social media handle, Yau wrote “Please disregard any news concerning the political movement of Senator Ibrahim Shekarau. A clear and detailed position will be made public within the week.”

Also reacting, Kano State Chairman of NNPP, Umar Haruna Doguwa, denied the news and insisted that the issue around Malam Shekarau’s defection is being orchestrated by his political enemies.

According to him, “I am not aware of that and as a matter of fact, the party is not aware of any unresolved issue with Malam. What is unfolding is politics but I want you to take it as rumour.”

On whether there was a breach of the agreement between Shekarau and NNPP, Doguwa said, “ If someone is going into a political party he or she may not necessarily write an agreement as much as he is satisfied with his action. When Malam came to the party, he only filled out a form and he was offered a senatorial ticket. I think what is happening is the creation of our enemies in politics.”