The Shura Consultative Assembly, the highest decision-making body in Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s political camp, has set five conditions for defections to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The conditions form part of Shura’s report to be submitted to Mr Shekarau on Saturday (today).
DAILY NIGERIAN had exclusively revealed Mr Shekarau’s plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP to PDP despite getting the automatic senatorial ticket of the former.
When Mr Shekarau broached the issue of his ongoing talks with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, and the offers made to him before the Shura, insiders said the house was divided.
While others expressed reservations over defection to PDP, others supported Mr Shekarau’s move as “NNPP failed to accommodate Mallam’s loyalists in giving automatic tickets”.
Although the defection issue was presented to Shura as a fait accompli, the former governor nonetheless sought its recommendations before formal declaration.
A credible source who preferred anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN that as part of the offers made to woo Mr Shekarau, Mr Atiku promised to appoint him as either Secretary to the Government of the Federation or Chief of Staff to the President.
The source added that Mr Shekarau would lead the PDP campaign in the North West, with a mandate to reach out and rally the support of religious and traditional leaders.
“You know Mallam has extensive network among the religious and traditional leaders in the North. With Mallam in charge of his campaign in the North, it will be easier for Atiku to gain support,” said the source.
A 21-member committee was last week formed to study the proposal and give a report on the development.
The committee, which was later expanded to a 30-man panel, had studied Mr Atiku’s proposals and delegated five most ranking members to set “five terms and conditions” for the senator.
“Key conditions among the five are: Shura members must be in all subsequent meetings with either Atiku or Tinubu and; Mallam will not defect until there is concrete agreement between Atiku or Tinubu on specific appointments to be given to Shura members. I remember these two issues are key among the conditions. It is no longer Mallam getting the appointment alone, his loyal disciples must also be accommodated.
“The conditions are set this time in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. Previously, Mallam joined PDP, APC and now NNPP without making any specific demands for his loyalists to be accommodated by way of automatic tickets or appointments,” said a source familiar with the conditions.
But a top associate of Mr Shekarau who pleaded anonymity told this newspaper that the defection plan was not initiated by the senator but the Northern elite.
According to the source, two issues – pressure from the Northern elite and his associates – necessitated Mr Shekarau’s defection to PDP.
“Mallam was particularly disturbed by internal grumbling about his being self-centered without negotiating positions for others but himself. While Malam was trying to manage the internal rift, then Northern elders started calling him to come and join hands with Atiku,” said the source.
Mr Shekarau’s spokesman, Sule Yau Sule, who had earlier told journalists that a decision would be taken within a week, could not be reached for comment on the development.
