Ex-governor of Kano state, Ibrahim Shekarau is yet to conclude on whether to defect from the New Nigeria People Party this week, as related to the media as confirmed by his spokesperson, Sule Yau on Tuesday.
In response to questions on his visit to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for forthcoming general elections.
Shekarau served as the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party’s presidential candidate in 2011 and was among the party’s executives in the coalition negotiations with the leaders of the other legacy parties that led to the creation of the APC in 2013.
He was a founding member of the APC who defected to the NNPP on May 18 along with thousands of his supporters after a dispute with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano over management of the party in the state.
However, he and the NNPP’s national leadership, including Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential nominee, had a misunderstanding over the party’s governance plan.
Before the general election in 2023, Shekarau and his team would evaluate their preferences, according to Yau.
He said, ‘You see, various groups and people are making contacts with him; he has met with Peter Obi who visited him. Kashim Shettima has visited him. Atiku Abubakar has visited him twice and now Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is visiting him.’
‘So, we are collating all proposals after which we will sit down and analyze and then pick a position.’
‘So, the meeting with Tinubu does not mean he is returning to the APC, not at all.’
When questioned about Tinubu’s visit to Shekarau, Yau responded that it was political.
‘An elder statesman like him (Tinubu); if he says he wants to see you, will you say no? But certainly, it has to do with politics. Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, was in Shekarau’s house. Peter Obi was at his house and Atiku invited him for a meeting.’
‘This is not the first time Tinubu is meeting with Shekarau. There was a time he sent an aircraft to Kano to pick him, and he had sent another aircraft to pick him to Abuja in the past.’
‘So, it is not something new that they are meeting with Tinubu. Remember also that they were colleague governors.’
When quizzed on when Shekarau would decide whether or not to leave the NNPP, he responded, ‘Before the end of the week.’
