PDP fumes as founding member Shehu Shagari defects to APC
Story from Christine Tobechukwu
Former Minister of Water Resources, Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has formally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Shagari, who is the only surviving member of the old People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State formally received APC membership card from the party secretary, Abubakar Yabo, in the company of other state APC executives.
The former minister was a founding member of the PDP and has been in the party for over 25 years until August this year, when he decided to move to the APC.
Those who care to speak on the former minister’s recent defection to APC blamed the national body of the party for not being fair and just to Shagari despite his utmost respect and loyalty to the party leadership.
They argued that all contemporaries of the former minister in the PDP have since dumped the party including the former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was in ACN and APC before he later made a back turn to PDP to seek presidential ticket.
The state APC secretary Alhaji Abubakar Yabo confirmed that the former Minister and former Deputy Governor of the state has received his party membership card which will qualify him to be recognised as a registered member of the party.
The defection of the former Deputy Governor has put a lot of insinuations going round the state that Shagari who is well known for his conservative political ideology will remain in the PDP even if he will be the last man standing.
Shagari’s membership of the APC reads
“All progressives Congress APC Justice, Peace and Unity”Registration form, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari (CFR) SOKO/SGR/014/26001 dated 27th May 2023.
The Sokoto State leadership of the PDP while reacting to the defection of the former Minister, described it as an act of betrayal.
He said the former Minister left the party alone without his followers.
According to the publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Hassan Sahabi, the defection of Shagari would not in anyway weaken the party or change anything in the state party structures.
He said PDP remained the only and most formidable opposition in the state, adding that the ambassadors of the party at both state and national assemblies are the most vibrant and credible representatives of the people of Sokoto State.