Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has pulled out of the All Progress Congress (APC) national chairmanship race, saying he doesn’t want to oppose the zoning formula of the party as they have agreed to zone the position to the north-central.
Briefing journalists on Sunday in Abuja, Senator Sheriff said he has respect for the leader of the party President Muhammadu Buhari and so he will not continue in the race.
“I respect the president as my leader, and he must have a reason why the national chairman is zoned to the North-central. Therefore I will no longer contest unless the party leadership decides to throw it open between now and Friday.”
He thanked his campaign team for their steadfastness, noting that except the party reviews its zoning formula, he is no longer contesting.
The national convention is expected to hold on March 26.
APC in a statement issued last Wednesday by its Director of Publicity, Salisu Na’inna Ɗambatta, announced that the national chairmanshi[p position has been zoned to the North-Central while the South West will produce the National Secretary.
According to the statement, the position of the Deputy National Chairman has been allocated to the South-East zone.
The ruling party said the zoning arrangement was adopted at the March 8, 2022, regular meeting of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
