Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayo
Fayose were the masterminds of the emergence of a former governor of Borno
state, Ali Modu Sherrif as the new chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), investigations have revealed.
Their action, now causing a whirlwind of protests in the party, was also
said to have the backing of some members of the PDP National Working
Committee (NWC) in a move seen by close watchers of the party as capable
of decimating it.
Already, feelers from the party last night indicated that the emergence of
Sherrif was threatening mass defection as some key members of the PDP
remained adamant not to accept him as chairman of the party.
The leaders of PDP who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that
Sherrif’s emergence would cause more trouble for the party than solve as
they unanimously rejected him.
Several knocks have trailed the announcement of Sherrif as the new
chairman of the PDP, largely seen as an “outsider” in the party on account
of relative short span of his membership, having decamped to the party
towards the last general election.
Ali Modu Sherrif was until then a leading member of the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP), who also played key roles in the merger of legacy
parties that formed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Much of the criticisms and rejection of his choice were traced to his
political antecedents which were said to have raised questions about his
suitability to lead the PDP at this period as an opposition party. Some
PDP leaders who spoke with our correspondent last night also considered
his political baggage not only in Borno State but in national politics as
“limiting factors.”
He lost Borno State to the APC in the last election.
Sources claimed that his political antecedents were the main issues why
key members of the party were against his choice and not surprisingly that
members of the BoT staged a walkout when his choice was made known last
Monday.
A source informed that the PDP BoT will not ratify the choice of Sherrif
given his antecedents and going by the negative reactions that have
trailed his emergence.
His choice has also polarized the entire North East where he hails from, a
major issue of contention because lack of consensus from the zone meant he
lacked the home support.
“Our leaders will do everything to save the party. They know that the
choice of Ali Modu Sherrif was the handiwork of a few governors and some
NWC members who do not mean well for the party. All they are interested in
is to advance their own selfish agenda”, the source said.