Shekarau Nears APC Return in Strategic 2027 Election Move
In a significant political development, former Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is reportedly concluding high-level consultations to rejoin the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This strategic maneuver is widely seen as a calculated effort to bolster the party's position ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to reliable sources.
High-Profile Meetings Signal Political Realignment
The former Minister of Education and current member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees reached this decision following separate confidential meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Sources indicate that Shekarau met with President Tinubu in Lagos during the Easter holiday at the President's invitation, facilitated by key APC stakeholders aiming to strengthen the party's influence in Kano.
Subsequently, Governor Yusuf visited Shekarau at his Kano residence on Sunday evening, accompanied by APC Chairman Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa and Transportation Commissioner Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi. This visit appears to be a strategic overture to bring another political heavyweight into the APC fold, marking a significant shift in Kano's political dynamics.
Complex Political Landscape in Kano
The governor's visit occurred just two weeks after Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and Yusuf's former political mentor, paid a similar courtesy call to Shekarau. Kwankwaso sought to forge a new alliance within the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) against the ruling APC, though he reportedly failed to secure Shekarau's commitment to join the opposition.
However, Kwankwaso did manage to secure the support of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, a close ally of Shekarau and former Deputy Governor under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Gawuna, who contested the governorship election against Yusuf under the APC banner, has since resigned from his federal appointment at the Federal Mortgage Bank and joined the ADC.
Recent Political Shifts and Defections
The political equation in Kano underwent a dramatic transformation in February when Governor Yusuf severed ties with his political benefactor to assume full control of his political structure within the APC. This move followed persistent crises within the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the platform that originally brought him to power.
While Yusuf's decision to abandon the NNPP faced criticism from many Kwankwasiyya Movement disciples, the governor was ultimately vindicated when Kwankwaso himself left the NNPP for the ADC last week. Observers interpret this as a broader strategy to reinforce Kwankwaso's weakening political structure and retain supporters who had already aligned with Yusuf.
Shekarau's Defense of Political Mobility
Shekarau, a prominent figure in the Kabiru Taminu Turaki-led PDP faction, recently defended Governor Yusuf's defection to the APC against accusations of betrayal. During a local radio interview, Shekarau argued that Yusuf should be commended for following the precedent established by Kwankwaso, who is known for frequently switching political platforms.
"When he (Kwankwaso) left the PDP for the APC, he took the governorship seat along with him. Why didn't he surrender it to the PDP? In the same way, Abba can move the NNPP seat to the APC," Shekarau stated, recalling how Kwankwaso defected from the PDP to the APC in 2013 without relinquishing his position as sitting governor.
Historical Context and Future Implications
Shekarau, a founding member of the APC, was compelled to leave the ruling party after Kwankwaso joined and assumed leadership of the party structure in Kano. The former senator representing Kano Central briefly reunited with Kwankwaso in 2022 after departing the APC, but their political alliance soon dissolved due to disagreements over power sharing arrangements.
When contacted regarding these latest political realignments, Shekarau's spokesperson, Associate Professor Sule Yau Sule, confirmed the meetings with both Governor Yusuf and President Tinubu. In a telephone conversation, Prof. Sule noted that his principal regularly consults with political heavyweights, including serving and former governors, and emphasized that a final decision regarding Shekarau's political future would be announced after consultations conclude.
This developing situation underscores the fluid nature of Nigerian politics, particularly in strategic regions like Kano, where alliances and defections can significantly impact electoral outcomes and party dominance in the lead-up to major elections.
