‘2019 presidential candidate must come from the north,’ BoT says

The BoT also warned the party’s Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, not to extend his tenurebeyond May 21.

The comments were made by acting BoT Chairman, Walid Jibrin, during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

“I want to advice Senator Ali Modu Sherif on the consequences of the evil machinations of praise singers and prophets of doom on the approval of the PDP Governors’ Forum, National Causes, BOT and the NEC terminating his tenure and that of the NWC on May 21, 2016,” Jibrin said.

“The above responsible bodies have approved that the tenure of national officers will end after the convention. The NWC received an overwhelming ovation and admiration at the meeting of the national caucus, BOT and NEC by overlooking their 2017 tenure in support of the three months approval of the respected organs of the party which should strictly be complied with.

“Instead of listening to praise singers, Modu Sherif should follow the path of honour and integrity by simply taking a bow in May 2016 after the national convention.

“The recent courtesy calls to the National Chairman and the presentations being made, especially calling on him to continue beyond the stipulated three months tenure is an invitation to trouble, anarchy and the return of impunity in PDP.

“May I also strongly warn on the dangers of not adhering to the recommendations of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s Post Election Review Committee (2015) that the party should seek its 2019 presidential candidate from the North of Nigeria to compensate for the obvious violation of the zoning arrangement in the 2011 election which led to a major apathy against the party in the north from 2011, culminating in the poor performance of the party in the 2015 elections.

“The National Caucus, BOT, and NEC have already approved this recommendation by unanimously zoning 2019 presidency to the North. To change this decision now is a further invitation to impunity, lack of party democracy, non adherence to party zoning principles, influence of godfatherism, lack of respect for the decision of constituted party organs, self-imposition, and killing the PDP.

“Anyone who tries to reverse this position by changing it with another position will ever remain an enemy to the North, a mercenary and killer of PDP,” he added.

Sheriff’s emergence as PDP chairman has been strongly contested by many members of the party due to allegations that he had links with Boko Haram.

--------------------------------------------------

See Pulse Photo-News gallery below: