Sheriff, others set to dump APC
Former governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff along with other aggrieved leaders the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to dump the party in protest over the outcome of its national convention on Friday.
John Odigie-Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, emerged national chairman of the APC while Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State emerged national secretary. Sheriff had supported former foreign affairs minister Tom Ikimi and Kashim Ibrahim Imam for the two positions.
Sheriff who confirmed his displeasure about the convention to our correspondent said he does not accept the results of the convention and is contemplating joining another party.
Speaking through his close associate, Dr. Umar Duhu, a former interim national vice chairman of the APC, Sheriff said he was not only victimized, but that his associates including Tom Ikimi whose house was used to actualize the merger of APC were schemed out of positions in the party despite his initial endorsement.
“Sherriff views the outcome of the congresses as a witch-hunt. All his associates including Kashim Imam, Umar Duhu and Tom Ikimi were not considered at the convention despite endorsement. Even though there is appeals committee, Sheriff is angry with the APC but has not decided whether to join another party,” Duhu said last night.
“What happened is a charade that is orchestrated by Buhari and Tinubu’s men who want to actualize their Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and I can tell you that it is not realizable in the present Nigeria,” Duhu, the former North- East national vice chairman said.
Sheriff and his associates are particularly displeased with the manner Odigie-Oyegun emerged as chairman of the party while nothing has been done to compensate him with other key party positions.
He is also peeved that he has failed to get any of his associates to prominent positions within the party and is feeling short-changed at the outcome of the convention.
The former governor is said to have supported Chief Tom Ikimi for the national chairmanship of the party but failed to get the endorsement of party’s leaders led by Senator Bola Tinubu who prefer John OdigieOyegun.
Ikimi refused to step down for Oyegun even after the party’s leaders made their choice known before the convention. The last straw that broke the camel’s back, sources confirmed, was when the governors prevailed on former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva to step down for Oyegun, foreclosing the chances of an open contest.
Sheriff, sources say, had prepared a plan ‘B’ that would enable him pick the national secretary of the party.
But the plan ‘B’ did not also pull through as the governors had their way when they moved against Kashim Ibrahim Imam (Sheriff ’s choice for party scribe) and backed Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe APC chairman who joined the race at the last minute after the withdrawal of Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah from the race.
This is said to have angered Sheriff and his group, more so as the former governor has been engaged in a cold war with Tinubu over the control of the party.
Sheriff recently fell out with his successor, Kashim Shettima and is said to be working towards ensuring Shettima does not return as governor.
Though the duo reportedly reconciled, the rapprochement is said to be only skin deep as both are still suspicious of each other.
Sheriff is known to be eying the Senate seat but is wary of the obstacles that can be placed before him by the governor especially towards securing the APC ticket, hence the bid to place his men in sensitive positions within the party.
Ikimi said he will soon issue a statement to express his position on the matter, according to report. This is even as leaders of the APC are said to be making frantic efforts to cement the cracks within the party.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC Alhaji Lai Mohammed, when contacted, said the party will respond to the grievances raised by Ikimi and the others in due course.