Ali-Modu Sheriff, a two-term former governor of Borno state and aspiring national president of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has withdrawn from the race.
Sheriff, who was speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, said he had withdrawn from the race to respect the party’s and President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to split the post in the north-centre.
He added that he decided to withdraw from the race as a party man who respects the rule of law and party leaders.
“I am sure that most of you have been following the trends of the activities of our party, the APC, in the last 10 days or so.
“The party has taken the position that the position of its national president should go to the North Center, which means that it is zoned exclusively for zone contenders.
“The president is the leader of the party and has taken a position. I have always told them that I am going to dispute if the position is zoned in my area.
“That has always been my affirmation, and today they have taken a position. I respect the president as a person and as president, he is my leader, therefore I don’t want to oppose him in any way, shape or form,” Sheriff said.
The former governor of Borno added that the president and party leaders must have a reason to allow the zoning of his presidency in the center-north.
“I have directed a party: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I am the founding father of this party. I was Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP),” he said.
He added that, therefore, he knew the procedure and processes of a political party.
Mr. Sheriff, while saying that he would abide by the party’s decision to exclusively split his chairmanship in the center-north, added that this was not a final decision, however.
According to him, he can still participate in case the party rescinds its decision between now and Friday and opens the race for everyone.
He explained that zoning normally revolved around an individual, adding that it was not, however, done in a vacuum.
“And in the Congresses and Conventions of the parties, there is what is called a unity list, the last day of the convention, when the leaders decide, they will draw a list.
“And in that sense, the list will be followed by the participants because the parties are made up of men and women who also come from the zones and states,” he explained.
Mr. Sheriff maintained that he would not, however, run for an election that had clearly been zoned to the Northeast.
He thanked party members, stakeholders and Nigerians in general, who had been with him during his campaign across the country in the last two years.
According to him, his campaign has resonated across the country with many people showing interest.
He further explained that he was withdrawing from the race because he wanted to follow the rule of law and said that it was wrong for anyone to do otherwise.
“I, the Sheriff of Ali-Modu, will not be running for the APC National President race scheduled for Saturday, March 26, because it has been zoned out of my zone.
“I’m from the Northeast. North Central, where the position had been zoned, is made up of Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau, these are the places where the party’s next national chairman will come from.
“Borno is in the northeast of Nigeria. I want you to tell all of our supporters, men and women across the country so they don’t expect to see my name on the ballot.
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“But if the party changes its mind between today and Friday and says that everyone can participate, within 12 hours a form can be filled out.
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“But as long as the position is zoned to North Central. I’m not going to be a part of it,” she stressed.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the APC National Convention is scheduled for March 26, to elect new national executives to run party affairs.
Currently, the party is being managed by a Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
So far, seven applicants had purchased the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at a cost of N20 million to contest for their position as national president.
The contenders include: Saliu Mustapha, former Deputy National President of the now-defunct Congress for Progressives (CPC), and George Akume, Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Others are: Sani Musa, Tanko Al Makura and the former governor of Zamfara, Abudulaziz Yari, among other applicants, who have also bought the forms.
(YAYA)