Shinkafi, ex-Zamfara governor, dumps PDP for APC

Mamuda Shinkafi, former Zamfara state governor, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was alleged to have unlawfully received the sum of N15m for the 2015 election from Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum.

Shinkafi, who became the state governor in 2007 on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), defected to the PDP in 2008.

He, however, lost to the APC in 2011 and had since then remained in the opposition party.

Shinkafi announced his decision to join the APC at a ceremony in Gusau, the state capital.

According to him, it is the outcome of a long negotiation between him and stakeholders who have faith in “my leadership qualities”.

He told all his supporters to join him to make the APC stronger.

Shinkafi said that after series of meetings with stakeholders, he sincerely made up his mind to join the APC.

He also announced that all his former cabinet members, including his former secretary to the state government, Mamman Bawa, had joined him in the APC.

Muntari Anka, who served as a deputy governor under Shinkafi, also defected to the APC in Anka local government area a fortnight ago.