Major loss to PDP as ex-minister Shagari defects to APC

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Former Minister of Water Resources, Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to All progressives Congress, APC.

Shagari’s membership of the APC card reads: ”All Progressives Congress, APC – Justice, peace and Unity. Registration form, “Mukhtar Shehu Shagari (CFR) SOKO/SGR/014/26001 dated 27th May 2023.”

Shagari, a foundation member of the PDP in Sokoto State, received the APC membership card from the hands of the party secretary Abubakar Yabo in company other state APC executives.

Shagari’s defection is a major loss to the PDP because he has been in the party for over 25 years not until August this year when he decided to defect to APC.

Many commentators on Shagari’s detection to APC blamed the national body of the party for not being fair and just to Shagari, amid 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 Atiku Abubakar and PDP 2023 Presidential candidate who was in ACN and APC before he later returned to the PDP to seek Presidential ticket.

However, the state APC secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Yabo, confirmed that the former Minister and former Deputy Governor of the state has received his APC membership card which qualifies him as dully registered member of his new party.

According to the publicity secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the defection of the former minister would not in anyway affect the party or change anything in the state in party structures, as PDP remained the only and most formidable opposition in the state.

He explained that “the ambassadors of the PDP at both state and national assemblies are the most vibrant and credible representatives of the people of Sokoto State.”

The Sokoto State PDP leadership of the PDP described the action of the former Deputy Governor as an act of betrayal, especially for a party where he was a minister for six years and a deputy governor.