A former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sherrif has withdrawn from the National Chairmanship race of the governing party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Senator Sheriff said he was withdrawing from the race because it was not zoned to his geopolitical area which is the North-East.
Recall that APC in it’s zoning of party leadership positions to the six geo-political regions of Nigeria set the National Chairman to come from the North-Central Region.
The former Borno governor said because he is someone that abides by the party’s rules and respects the Nigerian President, he would not contest for the championship position.
“Being someone who respects the rule of law and respects our leaders. No party can take a zoning formula where you have a leader of the party in any setting where there is a government, the President is the leader of the party.
“And the President has taken a position. I’ve always told you that I will contest if it is zoned to my zone. That has been my statement always. And today they have taken a position. I respect the president. I respect him as a person and as a president he is my leader. He must have a reason for allowing the party to zone the chairmanship to north central.
“Unless the party come out between now and Friday to say that, no we have changed our mind, it is now open in that respect also there are obliged to allow everybody to pick a form. Every form is a party nationalist affairs of a party. Therefore, I don’t want to oppose the president in any way or form. I respect him. I will abide by the decision of the party that it is exclusively zoned to north Central,” Sheriff said.
Senator Sheriff also hinted at the possibility of a unity list being released for the selection of the APC leaders.
“Party congresses and convention there is what is called a unity list. On the last day of the convention, when the leaders make up their mind, they’ll bring out one list.
And in that respect, the list will be followed by the participants because parties are made up of men and woman who are also coming from the zones and states.”
The Nigerian governing party, APC is preparing to hold its National Convention on March 26 where members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC will be elected.
The quality of leaders in this incoming NWC is essential because they will be at the helm of affairs of the APC during Nigeria’s 2023 General Election.
