The Grassroots Coalition for Change (GCC) has described the appointment of former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the North-East Zonal Campaign Coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election as strategic and timely.

The coalition said Sheriff’s experience, grassroots connections and extensive political network would strengthen the party’s campaign and enhance its ability to mobilise voters across the North-East.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bello Y. Johnson, the GCC, however, condemned what it described as sustained media attacks against Sheriff following his appointment, alleging that the campaign was politically motivated and designed to undermine his new assignment.

The group questioned why allegations against the former governor were being revived at this particular time, arguing that those behind the attacks had remained silent during his previous leadership positions, including his tenure as national chairman of major political parties.

“Where was this person when Sheriff was made National Chairman? Where was he when Sheriff held key positions within the political parties and played prominent roles in national politics?” the coalition asked.

The GCC alleged that the latest campaign was being sponsored by an individual from Katsina State, who, according to the group, was outside the North-East geopolitical zone and had no basis for dictating who should coordinate the region’s political mobilisation.

It claimed that the individual had sustained allegations against Sheriff for about 15 years without producing tangible or credible evidence, arguing that the timing of their renewed circulation raised questions about the motives behind them.

The coalition maintained that the North-East was capable of deciding who was best positioned to coordinate its political affairs and warned against attempts by individuals outside the region to create division among its political stakeholders.

The group also rejected attempts to associate Sheriff personally with the Boko Haram insurgency, insisting that there had been no established finding that he was the originator of the group.

“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is not the originator of Boko Haram. That allegation has never been established,” the GCC said, describing attempts to revive the claim as an effort to distract attention from his political assignment.

The coalition said Sheriff’s political career, spanning several decades, included his tenure as governor of Borno State, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and leadership positions within the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), including national chairman and chairman of its Board of Trustees.

According to the GCC, his experience across different political parties had given him broad knowledge of party administration, electoral politics, grassroots mobilisation and stakeholder engagement.

It argued that such experience was particularly relevant to the North-East, where effective political mobilisation requires engagement with elected officials, traditional institutions, party leaders, community groups, women and youth organisations and other stakeholders.

The coalition said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had demonstrated political maturity by entrusting campaign responsibilities to experienced politicians with grassroots networks rather than relying solely on figures whose influence was concentrated in Abuja.

It added that Sheriff’s experience across political generations and party lines could help him engage stakeholders with diverse political backgrounds and strengthen the APC’s campaign structure in the region.

The GCC urged APC members and supporters across the North-East to cooperate with Sheriff and avoid turning his appointment into another source of internal division.

It said the focus should instead be on presenting the policies, programmes and achievements of the Tinubu administration to voters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The coalition maintained that the appointment should be viewed as a strategic decision aimed at strengthening the APC’s grassroots organisation rather than merely a political reward.

It also urged Sheriff’s supporters to avoid responding to attacks with counter-attacks, saying the most effective response would be successful mobilisation and delivery at the polls.

“We know the person who sponsored this media attack against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. The person is from Katsina and is not from Sheriff’s zone. The people of the North-East are capable of deciding who is best positioned to coordinate their political mobilisation,” the group said.

The GCC reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s decision and expressed confidence in Sheriff’s capacity to coordinate the APC campaign across the region.

It said the 2027 election should be about competing visions for Nigeria’s future and allowing voters to make their choices freely, rather than relying on personal attacks and allegations the coalition described as unsubstantiated.

“We are confident that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff will rise to the occasion. He is focused on delivering the North-East for President Tinubu, and nobody can distract him with allegations that have never been established,” the coalition said.