ADC doesn’t exist politically, APC will dominate 2027- Ali-Modu Sheriff

A former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as irrelevant and insisted the North-South power rotation must be upheld. Speaking on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’, Sheriff backed President Bola Tinubu’s exclusive right to pick his running mate. He also rated only a few ministers as performing, and stressed the need for stronger ties with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon to defeat Boko Haram. David Lawani brings highlights from the conversation

 

 

You have been in hiding?

No, I have not been in hiding. I have spent more time outside Nigeria than within.

 

 

Did Nigeria offend you?

Not at all. My businesses span different countries, so I move around to manage them. However, I never miss any APC party program or political activity in Nigeria. I follow everything closely and remain fully aware of developments in our political process.

 

 

Do you still keep in touch with President Bola Tinubu?

Yes, I do. Whenever I request to see him, he always grants me access. I have no hindrance in reaching His Excellency, the President.

 

 

Did you influence or play any role in the decision to make Senator Kashim Shettima the running mate before he became the Vice President?

No, I had no role in that. It was entirely President Tinubu’s decision. He alone picked Senator Kashim Shettima. I, however, brought Shettima into politics. He was a banker before. I spoke with his then-boss, Jim Ovia, and informed him I wanted to make Shettima my commissioner. I later appointed him as Commissioner of Finance and Agriculture. When Boko Haram killed our governorship candidate during my exit as governor, I believed Shettima was the best option. He did not contest the primaries like other politicians; I picked him directly. By Allah’s grace, he became governor. He was never a politician before I brought him in.

 

 

And today, he is the Vice President?

Yes, today he is the Vice President, thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is indeed a lucky man. I made him governor, and President Tinubu made him Vice President. I did not play any role in his elevation to Vice President.

 

 

Did you regret doing that?

No, I have no regrets. In politics, if you expect payback from people you’ve helped, you will end up with high blood pressure. I do everything for the sake of God and move on.

 

 

Are you impressed with his performance as governor and now as Vice President?

I would rather not comment on that because it is the President’s prerogative to assess him, not mine. He is the Vice President to President Tinubu, and only the President can evaluate his performance.

 

 

So, you were not aware of the choice?

I only found out when the Vice President himself told me. It was during the burial of our brother Umar Karecho. At the burial ground, he told me he was leaving for Abuja as President Tinubu had chosen him as his running mate. I congratulated him on the spot.

 

 

What advice did you give him at that time?

When he returned, I advised him to remain loyal to his boss and avoid rifts. I told him to stand firmly by President Tinubu. I have known Tinubu for over 40 years; we entered the Senate together in 1992. I know his style and character very well.

 

 

When you heard talks about dropping Shettima, what was your reaction?

Honestly, I never heard such rumours.

 

 

Did you see what happened in Gombe?

That was simply the action of some aggrieved young party members insisting that the Vice President’s name be mentioned. It is not a big deal. The same exercise took place at our national headquarters in Abuja. The President has the exclusive right to pick his running mate, just as he did previously.

 

 

Do you think people are trying to cause a rift between them?

I don’t concern myself with rumours. I live outside Nigeria most of the time, and even as I speak, I just flew into the country today. I don’t get involved in things that don’t concern me.

 

 

There are claims that you are joining the ADC. Is it true?

Which ADC? Do they even have a political party? I am a principal actor in the formation of the APC and was the chairman of its Board of Trustees. Whoever wishes to be President at all costs can try, but the ADC is politically non-existent.

 

 

What do you mean by that?

The ADC has no fundamental structure. When we formed the APC, we had about 15 state governors—President Tinubu brought four states (Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and another), the ANPP brought five or six states, the PDP remnants brought four states, and APGA brought Rochas’s one state. Today, we have 73 Senators, a majority in the House of Representatives, and over 17 states. What does the ADC have? Within three months, it will fizzle out.

 

 

Isn’t it healthy that they have many presidential hopefuls?

They have three or so presidential hopefuls. Atiku Abubakar has served as Vice President, and for him, it’s President or nothing. Peter Obi ran under the Labour Party, but reliable information suggests he may return to the PDP to contest for President. That will leave Atiku and Rotimi Amaechi. What states do they control?

 

 

How come Peter Obi won Lagos?

Lagos has a large Igbo population. I have lived there since I left England in 1980. It’s not surprising.

 

 

Are you saying Yorubas didn’t vote for Obi in Lagos?

Some did, but very few. Elections are about numbers.

 

 

You don’t need to control states to become President, do you?

Elections are about numbers, and we know what happened in 2023. APC has taken stock of its challenges, corrected many issues, and is better prepared for the future.

 

 

Have you addressed the pains of Nigerians?

Nigeria’s challenges are systemic and date back decades. PDP ruled for 16 years, APC for 10. We must collectively fix Nigeria rather than blame one person or party.

 

 

Has President Tinubu addressed these pains?

One man does not run government. I am not a fan of Nyesom Wike, but I must admit he has transformed Abuja. Since its creation, no one has worked harder on infrastructure there. People may call him rascally, but he delivers. Some ministers are failing, which makes the President look bad. For instance, Dele Alake has transformed Nasarawa into an industrial hub, though he is not from there. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, is another case—he boasts about roads in Ebonyi but fails to deliver in other regions like Bauchi.

 

 

So, these ministers make Tinubu look bad?

Yes, and we will tell him.

 

 

Is your name being linked to ADC membership falsely?

It is false. I remain in APC and will work to ensure President Tinubu wins in 2027.

 

 

After Buhari, is Atiku the most significant Northern political figure?

Not necessarily. Atiku is strong in Adamawa, but PDP remains in control there. He does not influence states like Borno or Yobe. Politics is about ground realities, not imagination.

 

 

Will you dismiss a man who came second in 2023?

I am not dismissing him. Atiku is a good man, but there is an unwritten agreement in the North to allow the South to complete two terms after Buhari’s eight years. Even if Tinubu doesn’t run, it remains the South’s turn.

 

 

What’s happening in ANPP?

I saw some names being mentioned, but these are people who left long ago. I don’t know them.

 

 

 

But you led the ANPP bloc?

I was chairman of the Board of Trustees that formed APC. I attended all key meetings with Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, and others.

 

 

Their grievance is that Shettima might be dropped. Valid?

The valid argument is for ANPP to produce the President in 2032, not Shettima’s position.

 

 

2027 will be tough. What will APC show Nigerians?

By next year, we will have plenty to show. Food prices are already stabilising—rice that was nearly ₦100,000 is now about ₦50,000–₦55,000.

 

 

Would you say Shettima has been loyal?

I cannot say. President Tinubu is the one to judge.

 

 

How would you feel if Tinubu doesn’t pick him for a second term?

It is entirely Tinubu’s decision.

 

 

Since you left office, how do you view Boko Haram’s evolution?

During my tenure, people assumed Boko Haram was only a Kanuri issue. But it was never local—it came from external forces, worsened by porous borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, and arms flow from Libya.

 

 

What should be done to stop Boko Haram?

Nigeria must strengthen ties with Chad, Niger, and Cameroon for effective collaboration.