Mombasa businessman-cum- politician Suleiman Shahbal has officially quit Jubilee party and rejoined ODM.

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Shahbal who is eyeing the Mombasa gubernatorial seat said he will further put more effort in ensuring the merger between Jubilee and ODM parties is realized.

"I have, today, officially resigned from the Jubilee Party. This follows my announcement to join the ODM party" posted Shahbal on social media.

“In exercise of my constitution and legal rights to belong to a political party of my choice by the law through section 14 of the Political Parties Acts, 2011, I wish to resign as a member of Jubilee Party,” reads part of Shahbal’s resignation letter.

Last month, Shahbal told members of the Mombasa Luo Focus Group, that he will support Raila Odinga in 2022.

He noted "I support Baba because he has suffered for the people of Kenya. It is because of him that we have the Constitution, multi-partism and even the proposed changes in the BBI”.

Shahbal joined the ruling Jubilee party in 2013 after losing the ODM nominations to Governor Hassan Joho.

He was earlier a member of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) which is led by Musalia Mudavadi before joining ODM and later Wiper party, in a span of weeks.

Shahbal, a former fierce critic of governor Hassan Joho has now developed a close friendhip with the county boss and are sometimes seen attending functions together.

His move to rejoin ODM comes just days after a visit by the party leader Raila Odinga in Mombasa where he was hosted by Shahbal's main rival, Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir.

During his tour Raila resisted pressure from supporters to endorse Nassir as the next governor of Mombasa and steered away from the local politics maintaining that the party will conduct a free and fair nomination process.

" Hiyo ya ugavana ni yenu (The governorship decision is yours. You will decide who will become governor). As ODM we are going to conduct free and fair nomination" said Raila.

In a response to Raila's sentiments, Shahbal took to social media and posted " Asante Baba. Tukutane mashinani sasa!."