Ali Modu Sheriff is PDP National Chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a National Chairman.
He is former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
Metuh said that the North-East leaders of the party had earlier submitted five names to the National caucus meeting of the party, from 29 candidates that indicated interest from the zone.
He said that since North-East Zonal leaders were unable to present a single candidate to the national caucus of the party, additional candidates from the zone were invited for screening.
The candidates whose names are submitted, according to Metuh, include Wilberforce Juta, Saidu Kumo, Alhaji Girgir Lawal, Shehu Gabam and Mohammed Wakil
Others invited for interview, he added, were Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, Senator Kumo, Senator Girgir, Shehu Gabam and Sheriff.
“After the interview process, these names were reduced to two persons. Just this afternoon, various organs of the party met separately to choose one of the two names presented to them.
“The PDP governors, National Assembly Caucus, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Working Committee (NWC) met separately and brought a candidate to the national caucus.
“One interesting thing is that unanimously, it was the name of the same candidate that was presented to the National Caucus.
“Although no appointment was yet made, but I can confirm to you that, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff was the candidate presented,” Metuh said.
Metuh added that Sheriff’s had been forwarded to the party’s BoT and the NEC for approval and ratification.
Sheriff was elected governor of Borno in April 2003, defeating the late Alhaji Mala Kachala who was governor between 1999 and 2003.
He was also a member of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and the first governor in Borno to win re-election.
He was a senator between 1999 and 2003.
Asked if Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan was among the candidate screened by the national caucus, Metuh said he (Gulak) was not.
Metuh said he was informed that Gulak was among the 29 candidates that indicated interest, but his name was not in the list submitted to national caucus.
When the nomination of Sheriff is approved and ratified by the BoT and NEC, he is expected to complete the tenure of Alhaji Adamu Muazu who resigned in May, 2015.