Abba Chamma Habib, the Chairman of the Northeast Coalition for Truth, Justice and Responsible Leadership (NECTJRL), has thrown their support behind the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, for his nomination as the North East Deputy Director of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign organisation for the 2027 general elections.
Recall that since President Tinubu announced the names of his campaign team last week, there has been a lot of public criticism against Ali Sheriff, accusing him of lacking the pedigree and political will to deliver the region for Tinubu and other APC candidates.
Abba, who led the group in a press conference in Maiduguri on Friday, stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is one family with no division, adding that Ali Sheriff is bigger than any single movement or political association.
His words: “We are here today because we cannot continue to remain silent while individuals hide behind the name of a so-called grassroots movement to launch what we consider a politically motivated attack on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
“The recent petition calling for the exclusion of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff from the campaign structure for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election is, in our view, an attempt to weaken an experienced Northeastern leader and create unnecessary division among people who should be working together. We are therefore making our position clear: Ali Modu Sheriff is above this politically motivated petition,” Habib said.
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He added that Senator Sheriff is not a political novice, having spent decades in Nigerian politics, contested and won elections, served as Governor of Borno State on two occasions, represented the people in the Senate, and served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The people behind this petition should understand a simple political reality: a winning national campaign cannot afford to deliberately exclude experienced leaders with established relationships, political networks, and the ability to mobilise support across different parts of the country.
“President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign will require unity and strong political mobilisation across Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast. Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, and the wider Northern political space need leaders who understand the people, the political terrain, and the realities of mobilisation. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is one of those leaders.
His political relationships extend beyond Borno State. His years in national politics have given him a broad understanding of Nigeria’s political landscape. Therefore, those genuinely committed to President Tinubu’s re-election should be asking how experienced political leaders can be brought together— not how they can be excluded.
“If the objective is truly Tinubu Continuity 2027, then every individual with the capacity to contribute to the campaign should be encouraged to participate. Personal political differences should not be allowed to weaken the coalition required for a successful national campaign,” Habib argued.
The group therefore condemned the manner in which this petition has been used to attack the reputation of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. They also call on all genuine supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain focused, as the task ahead is bigger than individual political disagreements.
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