Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja , Nigeria
In a shocking political move, former Governor of Katsina State, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema, has officially joined the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside hundreds of his supporters.
Truth Live News gathered that this august transition, marked by a colorful ceremony at the APC’s Dutsinma Local Government Area office, signals a notable realignment within Nigeria’s political landscape.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed Shema to the Aso Villa, accompanied by Katsina State’s current governor, Dikko Radda. The presence of these political heavyweights reflected the importance of Shema’s defection, prompting questions about the underlying motivations behind his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
According to sources close to the former governor, the decision to switch parties stemmed from a meeting with APC chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in August 2023. Despite previously supporting Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, Shema threw his weight behind the APC during the governorship election, which saw Dr. Dikko Radda clinch victory with an extraordinary margin.
At the ceremony, Governor Radda, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Jabiru Abdullahi Tsauri, hailed Shema’s defection as a “homecoming” and a reunion with political family members. Shema was presented with a membership card by the APC, further solidifying his allegiance to the party.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Radda, Chief Press Secretary Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed highlighted the significance of Shema’s defection, calling on other patriotic citizens to join hands in repositioning the state for greatness. The membership card, filled out by the state secretary of the APC and issued by the state chairman, Alhaji Sani Aliyu Daura, symbolized the official embrace of Shema into the APC fold.
Alhaji Abdullahi Tasuri received the membership card on behalf of Governor Radda, emphasizing the historic nature of Shema’s decision to join the ruling party. The state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Sani Aliyu Daura, praised Governors Radda and Masari for their roles in securing Shema’s defection, assuring the former governor of equal treatment within the party.
In his welcome address, the state secretary of the APC, Suleiman Nanadi, lauded Shema’s decision as a testament to the party’s success and popularity. The event marked a significant milestone for the APC, as it continues to attract influential figures from the opposition, reshaping the political dynamics in Katsina State and beyond.