In an unprecedented development, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (APC -Kano) has teamed up with his one time formidable rival and predecessor as governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and drawn the battle line with the incumbent governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
Shekarau gave as his reason the alleged obstinacy of the APC leadership in the state.
Shekarau said this at a news conference in Kano.
He said that he defected alongside his supporters, saying that he would seek re-election to the Senate on the NNPP platform.
Shekarau said that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the leadership of the party in the state failed to fulfil its promises of carrying alongside his supporters in the scheme of things.
“In spite of our immeasurable contributions , our members were dismayed by lack of corresponding appreciation and reciprocal gesture by the state leadership.
“As loyal party members and conscious of our shared obligations as residents and indigenes of Kano state, to render to the administration the required advisory and support to succeed, we persevered and continued to explore avenues to reach out to the government.
“It is regrettable to state that all our efforts are subtly blocked and often turned down.
“Against this sordid background, our members noted that such incidents were assuming the form of a rule rather than exception and expressed the shared concern that it seemed to be a deliberate scheme to isolate and exclude my supporters and other political associates by the APC and the state government,” he said.
Shekarau said that the state congresses of the party were not conducted in line with the stipulated guidelines. (NAN)
GWGNG reports that the decision of Shekarau to join Kwankwaso in the NNPP is bound to upset the dynamics in Kano as the two former governors had until now been the main power centres in politics in Kano. It is also the first time that both men would be in the same platform.
