By Bashir Bello

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC has moved to tighten its grip on Kano State by wooing the former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau to return to the party.

The party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda during a visit to the Mundubawa residence of Shekarau in Kano, pleaded with the former two-term governor to join the party and work for its victory in the upcoming elections.

He said the party didn’t win the state in the previous election, hence the move and decision to avoid a repeat in the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda also appealed to Northerns to allow the south complete their second term in office to allow for a smooth rotation of power to the North by 2031.

According to him, “I am here because you are a politician. I am here because you are a sincere man. I’m also a sincere man. I am here because you are a frank and genuine politician. And that’s why I’m here.

“Your Excellency, your name is all over Nigeria. You are known as a grassroots person. You are known as somebody who is straightforward. What made you a governor wasn’t money. It wasn’t money. You were not the richest person. What made you a governor was not because there was connectivity in Nigeria or Kano. No. What singled you out was the life of people you have touched. And that’s what has kept you in politics. That’s why I’m here today. I’m here today along with your partner, friend, and brother, Senator Hayatu Gwarzo.

“But today, I’m here for politics. I’m here because Nigeria is in a defining moment, especially we in the North. The north is now in a divided and in a definite junction of decision making that will affect the future of the north. First, for me, we in North we are just. That is why it’s only a northern man that can do an exchange of dollars. You can’t get that right. They trust us (Northerners).

“We said the South should be allowed to complete their term. They have already done one term, remaining the second term. By the time they finish their second term, then we (North) will take over. It could be from North West, North East or North Central. All we are interested in is let it return to the North.

“I as the Chairman of APC, I am a Northerner. I will not allow the North to be cheated.

“We did our research. We knew what happened in the last election. Because we lost Kano, it affected several other towns. This time around, we don’t want that to be the same thing. That’s why we are here, to make sure that Kano is certain. If APC capture Kano, we know that the north will accept it.

“Your Excellency, I’m here to plead, to ask, that being one of the pillars, of the north. The two of you are pillars not just the Kano politics, you’re pillars in Nigeria politics. Pillars in other politics. Having you is not just affecting the politics of Kano, it will affect the politics of Northern Nigeria; especially you have your friends across the north, you have your followers across the north and Nigeria. Two of you are former senators. Yeah, former governor. You have your friends across all the districts of Nigeria. We are committed to you. APC needs you. The unity of Northern Nigeria needs you. I want to see the North that religion doesn’t matter. I’m a Christian, and I’m proud to be a Christian, but I was born a Northerner before I before I became a Christian,” the APC National Chairman, Yilwatda said.

Responding, the former two-term governor of Kano State, Shekarau revealed that his current party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is grappling with deep internal challenges.

He described the situation within the party as a “serious cancer,” noting that efforts are ongoing to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Shekarau disclosed that he is consulting with relevant stakeholders, including his Shura Council, to determine his next political move.

“In the next couple of days, I will make my position known after thorough consultation,” the former governor, Shekarau, however, said.