All is now set for a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, to formally announce his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday.
But observers therefore wondered whether Mr Shekarau is leaving the PDP with or without his support base and political associates.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Shekarau had told his supporters that he had decided to join the APC after his efforts to fight alleged injustice done to him in the PDP failed.
“The national chairman of the PDP Uche Secondus neither picked my calls, nor Aminu Wali’s nor Bello Hayatu’s. We have done our best to challenge the injustice but the party headquarters seemed indifferent.
“Politics is all about interest. I summon this meeting ostensibly to reveal to you my next political plan but not to seek advice. I will never begrudge any one of you who decided not to join me in APC.
“Politics is all about interest and choice, and I chose to return to APC,” Mr Shekarau said.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Shekarau’s emotional speech reduced many of those present to tears as they lamented the injustice meted out on him in PDP.
Sources said most of those present at the meeting declared interest to follow the former governor to APC, except his former commissioner and top political associate, Salihu Sagir Takai.
Farouq Iya, a former chairman of PDP in Kano State and Mr Takai’s campaign director in the last election, also opted to remain in PDP.
Being one of the earliest aspirants who purchased nomination form, sources said Mr Takai chose opted to dump Mr Shekarau for the first time to continue pursuing his governorship ambition in PDP.
“Takai aspired for governorship for three consecutive times, and he realised that he is losing relevance in Shekarau’s camp.
“It is obvious Shekarau is more comfortable with Umar Maimansaleta as governorship candidate than Takai,” said a source familiar with the political activities in Mr Shekarau’s camp.
Notable among who chose to follow Mr Shekarau to APC include Senator Mohammed Bello, former commissioners Garba Yusuf, Sarki Labaran and Musa Shanono.
Others are Umar Mustapha Maimansaleta, Bello Sani Gwarzo, Nasir Sorondinki, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, Ahmed Aruwa, Mamuda Sani Madakingini, Nasiru Madana Fagge and Shehu Isa Direba.
In the party hierarchy, Ibrahim Mai Atampa (vice chairman Kano South) Shehu Na’Allah Kura (vice chairman Kano Central) Ibrahim KT (deputy chairman), Auwal Danzabuwa (state secretary of the PDP), Usman KK (state youth leader) Riga Yakasai (women leader) and three others chose to defect to APC with Mr Shekarau.
Spokesman for Kano PDP caretaker committee, Jamilu Dambatta, told DAILY NIGERIAN that out of the 88-member caucus of the chairmen and secretaries in the 44 Local Government Areas of the state, 54 so far paid allegiance to the new PDP caretaker committee.
“We assume that those who did not pay allegiance to our committee are not interested in the party,” Mr Dambatta said.
But long before Shekarau conceived the idea of leaving the PDP, DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that at least seven of his key associates dumped him for either Mr Ganduje or Mr Kwankwaso.
While former commissioner Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso joined Mr Ganduje administration as commissioner about a year ago, Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Alhajin Baba, Ali Datti Yako, Mamman Maifata, Idris Unguwar Rimi, Dankaka Bebeji dumped Shekarau for Kwankwaso.
