How Fayose, Wike plotted Sheriff’s emergence as PDP chair

The crave for supremacy by having a firm grip on the party influenced the emergence of former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Top PDP chieftains at the strategic meeting on Tuesday in Abuja where Sheriff was picked said Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayo Fayose were the masterminds of his emergence.

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.

Sources said former President Goodluck Jonathan was carried along in the discussion. He reportedly supported the move because he realised the governors were PDP’s only remaining chances of bouncing back to reckoning.

Once the governors secured Jonathan’s backing, the emergence of Sheriff, was said to have been sealed. They then moved to instruct members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to push for Sheriff’s candidature against the aspirations of Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Abba Gana, Alhaji Giri Lawal and Dr Saidu Kumo to grab the top position.

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.

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.

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.

Read also: Ali Modu Sheriff’s coming threatens to pull PDP apart

Some PDP chieftains also considered his political baggage not only in Borno State but in national politics as “limiting factors”, which they claim 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 Tuesday.

Sheriff’s appointment is expected to be ratified by PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), which will meet soonest on the issue, but a source informed that the BoT may not be inclined to do this 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 home support.
Sheriff is expected to be a tough leader expected to restore party discipline and order. His strong personality will mean no one can push him around, that he will be his own man. With the governors solidly behind him, it is expected the party will remain a strong entity.

The vocal politician is also expected to ferociously criticise APC’s policies and speak boldly against ongoing trials of PDP chieftains over alleged corruption. But he comes to the job with a lot of baggage.

His charm and native wisdom are also expected to help him reconcile aggrieved members with the party. Sheriff, according to sources, has been mandated to make sure many prominent members who left return. His canny way of warming himself into powerful forces is also expected to help the party consolidate ahead of 2019.

The vocal politician is also expected to ferociously criticise APC’s policies and speak boldly against ongoing trials of PDP chieftains over alleged corruption.
But he comes to the job with a lot of baggage.

One, he is still seen as the sponsor of radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, responsible for the death of over thousands of Nigerians. Reports said he funded the Boko Haram fighters in the beginning to function as political thugs. Many still believe he did not do enough to fight the terrorists who have since turned the nation to a butcher zone.

Public perception remains strongly against him. This will certainly affect how PDP is able to attract members and support across the nation. He is also a controversial politician with the capacity to attract support and enmity.

Two, he has corruption cases hanging on his neck. How he wriggles out of them will determine, to a large extent, how he is able to galvanise the PDP back to reckoning.
But Sheriff has always been functioned with controversies. His political career has been defined by controversies. His PDP chairmanship might well follow the same route.

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