Former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has officially left his political party to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC) following weeks of consultations and behind-the-scenes negotiations.
He made the switch alongside Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a gathering held on Sunday at Shekarau’s residence, widely known as Mundubawa Palace in Kano.
Speaking before supporters and political associates, Shekarau said the decision was reached after broad consultations and a careful review of available political choices.
“We have examined all options and arrived at a collective decision. Do you all agree?” he asked, inviting dissenting voices, if any.
The audience responded in unison, signaling approval of the move.
The development comes days after the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, paid a visit to Shekarau and Gwarzo at the same residence in a move seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the party’s influence ahead of future elections.
During that visit, Yilwatda appealed to both leaders to return to the APC, describing himself as a “son” seeking their mentorship and political backing.
He also encouraged their supporters to support the reconciliation effort in the interest of unity among northern political actors.
In response at the time, Shekarau commended the APC chairman’s gesture, describing the visit as respectful and politically significant, while noting that consultations were still ongoing and no final decision had been made.
He stressed that any political alignment would prioritise the interests of Kano State.
Shekarau’s political movements over the years have often been shaped by power dynamics within Kano politics, particularly his long-standing rivalry with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
A founding member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Shekarau served as governor under the platform before its merger into the APC in 2014.
He defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that same year, citing concerns over internal party control in Kano after his rival, Kwankwaso, joined the APC.
Following the PDP’s loss in the 2015 general elections, Shekarau remained in the party until September 2018, when he returned to the APC. Around the same period, Kwankwaso moved back to the PDP.
The cycle repeated as Shekarau again felt sidelined within the PDP, particularly over the growing influence of Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya movement.
He subsequently returned to the APC, where he secured the Kano Central senatorial seat in 2019.
Mr Ibrahim Shekarau spent barely three months in the New Nigeria Peoples Party before exiting the party.
He returned to the Peoples Democratic Party in August 2022, accusing Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the NNPP leadership of reneging on an agreement to accommodate his loyalists in the party’s candidate list for the 2023 elections.
After subsequently deploying his political structure in support of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid in 2023, Shekarau has now taken yet another significant political turn.
The latest defection also follows recent political engagements involving Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who visited Shekarau at his residence, as political alignments continue to shift in the state.