Former Governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has stepped down from the national chairmanship race ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a brief chat Sunday in Abuja, Sheriff said he was stepping aside due to the zoning arrangement in the party which has ceded the office to North Central.
Sheriff who is from the North East however said he would rejoin the race should the party change its mind between now and Friday.
This followed the zoning of the chairmanship slot to the North Central during a meeting of APC stakeholders in Aso Rock.
Party insiders had told Daily Trust how President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the meeting.
But despite the endorsement, some other aspirants vying for the chairmanship seat refused to withdraw from the race.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, on Sunday, Sheriff said he chose to opt out of the race because it was not zoned to his region.
He said, “The President has taken a position. I have always told you that I will contest if it is zoned to my zone. I respect Mr President because he is my leader. He has a reason for saying the position should be zoned to the North-Central.
“I don’t want to draw a line. I don’t want to oppose the President in any way. So I will not contest unless they change their mind between now and Saturday. I won’t contest an election that is clearly zoned out of my zone.”
The Borno ex-governor had earlier said that he would abide by President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on who becomes the party’s next helmsman.
Some of those who purchased the chairmanship form of the ruling party said they were not aware of Buhari’s preference for Adamu.
The APC convention is scheduled for Saturday, preparations are currently ongoing.
