Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano, has weighed on the rumoured defection of Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), without the endorsement of Rabiu Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Speaking in an interview with an online platform, DCL Hausa, Shekarau said Yusuf’s planned defection should not be viewed as a betrayal of Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano.

Shekarau, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, said Kwankwaso has no moral ground to insist that Yusuf should relinquish his mandate before leaving the NNPP.

He reminded Kwankwaso that he too defected from the PDP to the APC in 2013 while serving as governor, without vacating the seat.

Shekarau said he is surprised by comments from the Kwankwasiyya movement demanding that Yusuf vacate office before any defection.

“When he was governor under PDP, he decamped to APC with the governorship seat. Why didn’t he return it to PDP?” Shekarau asked.

“The same way he took PDP’s mandate to APC is likely how Abba will take NNPP’s to APC. If this is now a crime, it was your boss, Kwankwaso, who started it.

“Kwankwaso has defected multiple times — from PDP to APC, back to PDP, and then to NNPP. He always had his reasons and consulted his people. If Abba has his reasons, consults his people, and they agree, I won’t call it betrayal.”

Shekarau criticised Kwankwaso’s public demand for a presidential or vice-presidential ticket before any future defection, advising him to negotiate privately with party leaders instead.