Ali Modu Sheriff
Office 1Chairman of the PDP National Working Committee
Acting
Term start 116 February 2016
Term end 121 May 2016
Predecessor 1Uche Secondus (Acting)
Successor 1Ahmed Makarfi (Caretaker)
Office 2Governor of Borno State
Deputy 2Adamu Dibal
Term start 229 May 2003
Term end 229 May 2011
Predecessor 2Mala Kachalla
Successor 2Kashim Shettima
Office 3Senator for Borno Central
Term start 33 June 1999
Term end 33 June 2003
Predecessor 3Himself (1993)
Successor 3Mohammed Abba Aji
Term start 45 December 1992
Term end 417 November 1993
Successor 4Himself (1999)
Birth date1956 (age 70–71)
Birth placeNgala, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Borno State, Nigeria)
PartyAll Progressive Congress (2013–2014; 2018–present)
Other party

All Nigeria People's Party (1998–2013)

Ali Modu Sheriff (born 1956) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Borno State from 2003 to 2011. He was the first governor to serve two consecutive terms.[1]

Though Sheriff had held two elected offices as a member of All Nigeria People's Party, he would later join the All Progressives Congress becoming a founding member of that party. In 2014, Sheriff switched affiliation to the People's Democratic Party.[2][3] He acted as the National Working Committee chair from 16 February 2016 until the National Convention, when he was removed and replaced by Ahmed Makarfi.[4][5] On 26 April 2018, Sheriff defected back to All Progressives Congress.[6]

Background

Ali Modu Sheriff was born in Ngala Town, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State in 1956. His father was the business tycoon Modu Sheriff, who was also the Galadima of the Borno Emirate.[7] He attended Government Secondary School, Bama (1974–1979). He attended the London School of Business, where he studied Insurance, Banking and Finance. In 1981, he joined his father's construction company as a Director, later becoming Managing Director. In 1985, he registered his first company. His companies include Meroil Organisation and Union Chase.[8]

He was elected as a senator from Borno during the Third Nigerian Republic under the banner of NRC, his opponent then was Kolo Kingibe, wife of the Social Democratic Party, SDP chairman, Babagana Kingibe.[9] He was also a member of the Constitutional Conference and chaired the committee on states and local government.[1]

Senate career

Ali Modu Sheriff was elected Senator representing Borno Central on the platform of the National Republican Convention during the Third Republic; he was again elected on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during General Sani Abacha's military regime. After Nigeria' return to democratic governance, in April 1999 he was again elected Senator, Borno Central on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).[1]

Governor of Borno State

In 2003, he ran for Governor of Borno State on the ANPP platform and won. He was re-elected in 2007 and sworn in on 29 May 2007. In both cases, he defeated the PDP candidate Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.[10]

PDP National Working Committee

During 2014, Sheriff switch affiliation to the People's Democratic Party. On 16 February 2016, he became the chairman of PDP National Working Committee (acting), serving until his removal from office at the 2016 National Convention. He was replaced by Ahmed Makarfi as Caretaker Chairman.[11]

PDP crisis

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday 17 February 2017 declared former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In July 2017, following the verdict from a five-man Supreme Court, Ali Modu Sheriff was removed as the PDP Chairman and Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi reinstated as the National Chairman of PDP.[12][13][14]

Controversy

Sheriff has been accused of being a sponsor to the Islamic sect Boko Haram by an Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davies.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State". Nigeria Governors Forum. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "We'll replace Buhari in 2019; nothing will stop us, PDP Chairman, Sheriff, vows". Premium Times. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Ali Modu Sheriff Defects to PDP, Will Ikimi Join Him?". News Diary. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ Ernest Chinwo (21 May 2016). "PDP Throws Out Sheriff, Markarfi Heads Caretaker Committee". This Day. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Ex-Borno Governor, Modu Sheriff, Sworn in As PDP Chairman". AllAfrica. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  6. ^ "JUST IN: Ex-PDP chair, Ali Modu Sheriff, defects to APC". newtelegraphonline.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  7. ^ Haruna, Abdulkareem (23 April 2020). "Ex-Borno governor's father dies in fire accident". Premium Times. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  8. ^ "Governor - Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff". Borno State Government. Archived September 9, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  9. ^ "Borno: Younger Sheriff's Guber Bid Creates Tension". This Day. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  10. ^ Mohammed Gujbawu (November 28, 2009). "Borno PDP: The enemy from within". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  11. ^ punchng (2017-07-13). "Makarfi takes over PDP HQ as Supreme Court sacks Sheriff". The Punch. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  12. ^ Herald, Premium (2017-07-12). "Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, reinstates Makarfi as PDP chairman". The Premium Herald. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  13. ^ "BREAKING: Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, reinstates Makarfi as PDP chairman". The Punch. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  14. ^ "Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, declares Makarfi authentic PDP leader - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  15. ^ Sani Tukur (September 3, 2014). "Ex-Gov Sheriff, accused of sponsoring Boko Haram, ready to face justice". Premium Times. Archived September 11, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  16. ^ Femi Falana (September 4, 2014). "How Modu Sheriff Sponsored Boko Haram". Sahara Reporters. Archived September 5, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 5, 2014.