Over 40 political chieftains, who joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), together with ex-Governor Ibrahim Shakarau, have resolved to remain in it despite the latter defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.

They also reiterated their loyalty to the NNPP, pledging to work for its victory in the 2023 general elections.

Mr Shekarau, on Monday in Kano, defected to the PDP.

The NNPP chieftains announced their stand in a communique issued at the end of a meeting on Tuesday in Kano. The statement was read by Haruna Isa-Dederi.

Mr Isa-Dederi, the member representing Karaye/Rogo federal constituency, said, “We jointly and individually remained members of the Kano NNPP, with an unshaken loyalty and determination to carry the party to success in the forthcoming general elections.”

The communique added, “We shall continue to make sacrifices to our great party to further strengthen its support base. We urge all our supporters to equally continue to cooperate with us so that we can be able to take the party to victory. We joined the NNPP because of the conviction about the party’s manifesto and principles.”

They urged their supporters to remain calm and be law-abiding, assuring they would not let them down politically.

The NNPP governorship candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, deputy governorship candidate Aminu Abdulsalam and the Kano South senatorial candidate, Abdulrahman Kawu-Sumaila, were among those who attended the meeting.

Others were the member representing the Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure federal constituency, Kabiru Alhassan-Rurum, former chief of staff to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Ali Haruna-Makoda and ex-commissioner of budget and planning, Nura Muhammad-Dankadai, among others.

(NAN)