TheCable

Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno state, has reportedly begun consultations with governors on his ambition to become the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In March 2020, Adams Oshiomhole was suspended as the APC national chairman, following a court order.

Following Oshiomhole’s suspension, a caretaker committee headed by Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe, was appointed in June 2020 to oversee the party’s affairs, pending the organisation of a national convention.

There have been speculations that Sheriff, who was a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is interested in Oshiomhole’s former position in the APC.

Speaking with journalists after a two-hour meeting with Muhammad Badaru, Jigawa governor, Sheriff said his visit was for “consultation on party politics and national issues”.

“I am in Jigawa to see my brother, governor Badaru. I have been coming to make consultation on the issues of national interest,” he said.

“I have to consult leaders on issues, and I have come to consult my brother. Badaru is one of the leading personalities in the country, and his voice is respected in national politics.”

When asked about his ambition for the party’s national chairmanship position, Modu said: “Party politics is nothing new to me. Managing the party is not difficult to me and I am now consulting leaders.”

Modu added that his previous leadership experience in the party would help him to uplift the APC.

Sheriff was a founding member of the APC, but in 2014, he joined the major opposition party ahead of the 2015 general election.

In February 2016, he became the national chairman of the PDP, but his leadership generated controversy, with some members of the party faulting the decision.

He was later sacked as the chairman.

He decamped to the APC in 2018, and was named the director-general of the “Buhari 2019 presidential support committee”.