THESHIELD Garkuwa
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By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
Former Minister of Water Resources and one time deputy governor of Sokoto state , Barrister Mukhtari Shagari has formally dumped opposition People’s Democratic Party(PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shagari who was a front line member and one of the founding fathers of the PDP had served in the then cabinet of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Minister for Water Resources, formally picked his APC membership card presented to him by the Sokoto state party Secretary, Abubakar Yabo flanked by some party executives.
The former Minister’s new membership reads” All Progressives Congress Justice, Peace and Unity.”
On the Registration Form is” Mukhtari Shehu Shagari(CFR) SOK/SGR/014/26001″, dated 27th May, 2023.
Shagari’s august decision to part ways with his former political platform for the ruling APC at the centre and state , may not be unconnected with the series of disappointments metted him despite his long standing record of respect and party loyalty to the PDP and it’s leadership for 25 years, sources worried by the development said, noting that all his contemporaries had long left the party blaming the cross carpeting on the national leadership of the party.
They also pointed out that , some left at one point or the other to rejoin the party again including former Vice President and the 2023 Presidential candidate , Atiku Abubakar who was in ACN and APC before returning to the PDP for presidential ticket.
Confirming the development on Shagari’s defection to APC, Abubakar Yabo said the former deputy governor has received his membership card of APC which formally qualified him as dully registered member of the party.
However, the development has raised lots of comments and surprises especially from across PDP members who saw and believed the former Minister’s alleged conservative political ideology as hardcore PDP loyalist who would prefer to be the last man standing even others decide to quit the party in the state.
Besides, in its reaction, the state chapter of the PDP described Shagari’s decision as nothing but betrayal to the party which made him a minister for almost 7 years pointing out that he left without his followers.
While explaining further , the Sokoto state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal said Shagari’s defection to APC will not in any way weaken or jeopardise the party’s structure in Sokoto state.
He stressed that PDP remain the only formidable party with the political resilience for good governance acknowledging that the party’s ambassadors in the state and National assembly were adjudged the most vibrant and credible representatives of the people of Sokoto state with passion.
