The Grassroots Coalition for Change (GCC) has defended the appointment of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East Zonal Campaign Coordinator for the 2027 presidential election, describing renewed allegations linking him to the Boko Haram insurgency as unproven and politically motivated.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bello Johnson, the coalition said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint Sheriff was a strategic move aimed at strengthening the APC’s grassroots mobilisation and political structures across the six states of the North-East.
The GCC said Sheriff’s political experience, deep knowledge of the region and extensive relationships with political stakeholders positioned him to coordinate the party’s presidential campaign in the zone.
It alleged that a fresh media campaign against the former governor emerged shortly after his appointment, arguing that the timing raised questions about the motives behind the renewed attacks.
The coalition rejected allegations portraying Sheriff as the originator or sponsor of Boko Haram, insisting that such claims had not been established by credible evidence.
“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is not the originator of Boko Haram. That allegation has never been established,” the group said, urging Nigerians not to treat unproven allegations as established facts.
According to the GCC, an individual from Katsina State had sustained attacks against Sheriff for about 15 years without presenting what it described as credible evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The coalition maintained that the renewed accusations appeared intended to damage Sheriff’s reputation and weaken his ability to mobilise political support for President Tinubu in the North-East ahead of the 2027 election.
While acknowledging that controversy surrounding the former governor had persisted for years because of the Boko Haram insurgency, which developed into a major security crisis in Borno and other parts of the North-East, the group insisted that political allegations should not be presented as established findings without verifiable evidence.
The GCC said attention should instead focus on Sheriff’s political record and his capacity to coordinate the APC’s campaign in the region.
Sheriff, who served as Governor of Borno State from 2003 to 2011, has held prominent positions in national politics, including leadership roles in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The coalition said his experience across different political platforms had given him considerable exposure to party administration, electoral strategy, grassroots mobilisation and negotiations among diverse political interests.
It added that such experience would be crucial in the North-East, where effective political mobilisation requires engagement with elected officials, party structures, traditional institutions, youth and women’s groups, as well as other community stakeholders.
The GCC also described President Tinubu’s appointment of experienced political figures to campaign leadership positions as part of a deliberate effort to strengthen the APC’s structures beyond Abuja.
According to the coalition, the North-East requires a campaign coordinator with a strong understanding of the region’s political and social dynamics.
It therefore urged APC members and stakeholders across the six North-East states to rally behind Sheriff and avoid allowing the controversy surrounding him to distract the party from its preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
The group also advised Sheriff’s supporters against responding to the allegations with counter-attacks, saying the most effective response would be sustained grassroots mobilisation and a campaign focused on the policies and performance of the Tinubu administration.
“The people of the North-East are capable of deciding who is best positioned to coordinate their political mobilisation,” the coalition said, rejecting what it described as attempts by individuals outside the zone to dictate the region’s political affairs.
The GCC maintained that the 2027 presidential election should be decided by voters on the basis of competing political programmes and visions for Nigeria rather than personal attacks and allegations that had not been established.
It reaffirmed its support for Tinubu’s decision and expressed confidence that Sheriff would deploy his political experience and network to mobilise substantial support for the President across the North-East.
The coalition said Sheriff’s immediate responsibility was to strengthen the APC’s political machinery across the region and coordinate grassroots support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
It consequently called on party stakeholders to close ranks and focus on campaign preparations, warning that internal disagreements and political distractions could undermine the APC’s prospects in the region.
