APC Crisis Deepens In Kano As IDPs Group Rejects Ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s Appearance At Campaign Event | Sahara Reporters

The association said many of its members still carried painful memories of the insurgency during Sheriff’s tenure as Borno governor, arguing that his appearance at an APC event could reopen old wounds.

An internal disagreement appears to be brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of a campaign event scheduled to hold in Kano on Saturday, following an appeal by members of the Borno IDPs Welfare Association asking the party’s Presidential Campaign Council to reconsider the planned presence of former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

The association, which consists of people displaced from Borno State by the insurgency and now residing in Kano, made the appeal in a letter dated September 4, 2026, addressed to the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulazeez Yari.

The group said it remained committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and the APC but expressed concerns that Sheriff’s participation in the event could create tension within the displaced community and distract from the party’s campaign message.

The association said many of its members still carried painful memories of the insurgency during Sheriff’s tenure as Borno governor, arguing that his appearance at an APC event could reopen old wounds.

“We respectfully urge the Council to reconsider his involvement in this specific event,” the association said in the letter signed by its chairman, Amb. Muhammad Gana Bukar.

The group said its position was not an outright rejection of the APC or Tinubu’s re-election bid, but rather a request for the campaign council to take into account the sensitivities surrounding Sheriff’s proposed appearance.

“Our desire is for the upcoming campaign rally to be a moment of unity, hope, and strategic focus on the President’s vision for our nation,” the association said.

It added that Sheriff’s presence could “polarize the atmosphere” and potentially distract from the campaign’s message, while also alienating some members of the displaced Borno community who support the APC.

The development highlights tensions that could emerge within the ruling party as it seeks to consolidate support ahead of the election, particularly among communities affected by years of insecurity in the North-East.

The association appealed to Yari to intervene and ensure that the event remained “focused and inclusive.”

“We have great faith in your leadership and your commitment to a smooth and successful campaign. We humbly ask for your intervention to ensure that tomorrow’s event remains focused and inclusive,” the group said.

The letter was copied to the chairman of the APC in Kano State and submitted through the party’s Kano State secretariat.

Sheriff served as governor of Borno State from 2003 to 2011 and later became national chairman of the APC. His political career has been closely associated with the North-East, a region that has suffered devastating attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups.

Sheriff has previously denied allegations linking him to Boko Haram, describing such claims as unfounded.

The latest development does not indicate that the association has withdrawn its support for Tinubu or the APC. Rather, the group’s letter suggests a disagreement over the choice of individuals to appear at the Kano campaign event and the potential political implications of Sheriff’s participation.

The dispute comes as the APC continues preparations for its campaign activities and seeks to project unity among its various political constituencies.