2027: Sheriff indispensable to Tinubu’s re-election bid, group insists

From Uthman Abubakar, Maiduguri

The controversy surrounding the inclusion of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, in the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign team has deepened as a North-East political group defended his appointment, describing him as a vital asset for the 2027 general elections.

Sheriff was recently named as a member of the presidential campaign committee constituted by the National Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and led by Senator Abdulaziz Yari.

His inclusion, however, drew swift pushback from a North-West grassroots mobilization group supporting the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, which called for his immediate removal over alleged ties to Boko Haram sponsorship.

Responding to the opposition at a press conference in Maiduguri on Friday, the Northeast Coalition for Truth, Justice and Responsible Leadership (NECTJRL) dismissed the allegations, asserting that Sheriff’s national political stature and extensive experience make him uniquely qualified for the role.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, spokesman Alhaji Abba Chamma Habib stated that securing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 requires strong political mobilization and unity, particularly across the North-East.

“Senator Sheriff has served Nigeria in several political capacities. He has experience, networks, and political relationships.

“He understands the North-East and understands Nigerian politics. President Tinubu needs experienced political leaders like him if the objective is to build a strong and winning coalition for 2027.

“Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, and the wider Northern political space require leaders who understand the people, the political terrain, and the realities of mobilization,” Habib said, maintaining that Sheriff fits that role.

The coalition further rejected calls to drop the former governor, describing the petition against him as politically motivated and intended to divide the North-East political bloc.

The group urged party leaders to ignore attempts by individuals pursuing personal political interests to undermine established leaders in the region, emphasizing that allegations should not be weaponized to exclude key stakeholders from the re-election campaign.