*We’re Aware Of His Planned Defection But… – APC
FORMER factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today.
Sheriff, according to multiple sources, is moving over to the ruling party along with his supporters mostly those who were with him in the factional executive of the PDP while he served as national chairman of the ruling party.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who served as deputy national chairman of the PDP while Sheriff was chairman was at the APC national secretariat yesterday to put finishing touches to the defection which is expected to take place by noon today.
A senior party operative who confirmed the planned defection said that Sheriff would be received by the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other senior officials of the ruling party.
The planned defection of Sheriff is set to reset the political narrative in his native Borno State where Sheriff had been at odds with the incumbent governor, Alhaji Kasshim Shettima and the mainstream of the party in the state.
Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress has said that it is aware of one time factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Senator Modu Ali Sheriff’s intentions to defect to the APC but advised that he should join the Party at the ward level.
The party in a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi National Publicity Secretary APC, said the part was happy to welcome new members, but membership cards are not issued at the Party National Secretariat.
The party statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some sections of the media that the former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
“While we are aware of such intentions, we wish to restate our earlier position that anyone who wants to join the Party should do so at the ward level. We are happy to welcome new members to our party, but membership cards are not issued at the Party National Secretariat.”
