The Northern Youths Frontiers (NYF) has rejected the appointment of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. The group described the appointment as an avoidable strategic and reputational concern that could affect the campaign’s credibility and called on the APC leadership to reconsider the decision.
NYF mobilises youth support across 19 northern states
In a statement signed by its North-West Zonal Coordinator, Saminu Tukur, on Monday, NYF said it had been mobilising youth support for the Tinubu/Kashim 2027 project across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory. It argued that the composition of the campaign council should reflect the confidence, expectations and sensitivities of the electorate whose support the APC seeks.
According to the group, appointing Sheriff to a prominent campaign position could become a distraction at a time when the party should focus on communicating the achievements of the President Bola Tinubu administration and building broad-based support. NYF acknowledged that Sheriff had denied allegations and controversies associated with aspects of his political career, stressing that allegations should not be treated as convictions and that criminal responsibility remained a matter for competent legal institutions.
Political campaigns carry reputational consequences
However, the group said political campaigns also involved reputational considerations. “Presidential campaigns are not courtrooms. Campaign appointments carry political and reputational consequences,” the group said. It added that individuals occupying prominent campaign positions would become part of the public face of the campaign and should be able to command public confidence, communicate the candidate’s message and contribute to broad-based mobilisation.
NYF said the key consideration should be whether Sheriff’s political experience and influence provided enough strategic value to justify the controversy surrounding his appointment. The group also highlighted the impact of insurgency on communities across the North-East, noting that many residents had lost relatives, homes, farms, businesses, schools and economic opportunities. It said the consequences of the crisis remained part of the social and economic reality of millions of young Northerners, making public perception and historical sensitivities important considerations in political mobilisation in the region.
Concerns over Sheriff’s political history and EFCC investigations
The organisation further referred to public discussions surrounding Sheriff, including references to the Galtimari Committee, political developments in Borno State before the escalation of the insurgency, allegations made by individuals concerning the insurgency and reported investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). NYF, however, cautioned that such issues should be discussed responsibly and that distinctions must be maintained between documented findings, allegations, denials and matters that had not been judicially established.
It maintained that the continued controversy surrounding the former governor remained a legitimate political consideration in deciding who should occupy a highly visible campaign position. The group described the appointment as an “avoidable campaign vulnerability,” arguing that the APC would need message discipline and effective grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election. It said the campaign would be expected to communicate the administration’s record on security, employment, infrastructure, education, economic opportunities and the welfare of young Nigerians.
NYF urges APC to remove Sheriff and apply rigorous standards
NYF argued that campaign officials should reinforce those messages rather than become subjects of controversies that could divert public attention from the candidate and the issues being presented to voters. “There is no shortage of experienced political actors across the North who can undertake campaign responsibilities while commanding public confidence and minimising unnecessary reputational distractions,” it said.
The organisation consequently called on the APC leadership to remove Sheriff from the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council and reconsider the North-East zonal coordination responsibility. It also urged the party to apply a rigorous standard of credibility, public confidence, political experience and reputational assessment to all senior campaign appointments.
NYF stressed that the voices of Northern youths, whom it described as a significant component of the electorate and grassroots mobilisation structure, should be considered in decisions affecting the campaign. The group said its support for the Tinubu/Kashim 2027 project did not prevent it from raising concerns about decisions it believed could weaken the campaign. It urged the APC to select campaign officials capable of expanding its political coalition, strengthening its message and inspiring confidence among voters.
According to NYF, the 2027 campaign should be defined by the APC’s candidate, record and vision for Nigeria rather than controversies surrounding individual campaign officials. The organisation therefore urged the party leadership to give serious consideration to the concerns raised over Sheriff’s appointment and take appropriate corrective measures to protect the credibility and effectiveness of the campaign.
