Shekarau submits form to take over Kwankwaso’s senate seat

Former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has submitted his form for Kano Central District in next year’s general elections.

At present, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also a former governor and PDP member, is the holder of the seat. Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state won the seat as a member of the APC in 2015.

Daily Trust had reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has  offered Shekarau, the senatorial ticket to replace Kwankwaso who defected to the Peoples Democractic Party, PDP.

The offer was part of the terms reached by both sides which culminated in Shekarau formally parting ways with the PDP on Friday.

Photos: Shekarau submits nomination form to battle for Kwankwaso’s seat

The embattled Senator is also believed to be eyeing a return to the Senate in the event that he loses at the PDP presidential primaries.

Shekarau rebuffed  last-minute efforts by the PDP to stop his switch to APC.

Sources said he shut his doors against the PDP and its national leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, who doubles as Senate President.

Why I refused to follow Shekarau to APC — Takai

It was learnt that PDP and Saraki had made spirited efforts in the last 72 hours to reach out to Shekarau with a view to averting his defection to APC.

The only concession made to Shekarau by PDP was said to be a slot in the seven-man Caretaker Committee of the party in Kano State.

The PDP’s face-saving concession came after the legally elected PDP State Executive Committee was unilaterally dissolved by the National Secretariat of the party despite a court order.

The National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led a high power delegation of the party to Kano to woo Shekarau.

The APC was said to have tabled its offers to Shekarau as a sign of its readiness to welcome him into its fold.

The terms include automatic integration of Shekarau’s group into the APC structure in the state; automatic Senatorial ticket for Kano Central, commissioner slots in the Kano State Executive Council, many seats in the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly and Federal appointments, among others.

It was gathered that there will also be ministerial slot(s) if APC government is re-elected in 2019.