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The Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) has criticised the Nigeria Rescue & Renewal Movement (NRRM) over its opposition to former Borno State Governor, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff’s appointment as North-East Zonal Campaign Coordinator for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Leader of the coalition, Abubakar Ali, in a statement on Friday, questioned why Sheriff should continue to be judged by allegations which, according to the group, were never established against him.
The group said political criticism was a legitimate part of democracy but should be based on facts and due process rather than unproven allegations.
The controversy surrounding allegations of Sheriff’s alleged relationship with Boko Haram is not new. The former governor has consistently denied any connection with the insurgent group.
The coalition said an inquiry was reportedly constituted to examine the allegations and maintained that no evidence establishing wrongdoing against Sheriff was found.
It, therefore, questioned why the allegations should continue to be used to challenge his appointment to political positions.
“An allegation is not a conviction. Suspicion is not evidence. Political propaganda is not a judicial finding,” it said.
The group also accused the NRRM of inconsistency, arguing that while the organisation acknowledged that Sheriff had not been convicted of any offence, it continued to rely on historical allegations to question his suitability for the campaign role.
“If the allegations are not established facts, on what basis should they constitute grounds for condemning his appointment?” the coalition asked.
It challenged the NRRM to present any fresh and credible evidence against Sheriff instead of repeatedly reviving old allegations.
The coalition said allegations involving terrorism should be taken seriously and properly investigated, stressing that the suffering caused by insecurity in the North-East must not be trivialised.
It, however, warned against a situation where merely associating an individual’s name with a terrorist organisation would be enough to permanently damage his reputation, even where investigations failed to establish culpability.
“The principle should be simple: investigate allegations, establish facts and punish proven wrongdoing. Do not condemn people merely because an allegation has been repeated for many years,” it said.
Sheriff, who served as governor of Borno State and later as a senator, remains an influential political figure in the North-East.
His supporters said his political record could be debated and his policies criticised, but insisted that questions about his suitability for political assignments should be based on demonstrable facts.
The coalition said Sheriff’s appointment should also be considered within the context of the 2027 elections.
It noted that political parties routinely appoint experienced politicians to coordinate campaigns across the country’s geopolitical zones.
According to the group, Sheriff’s experience as a former governor and senator gives him considerable knowledge of the political terrain in the North-East.
“Those who disagree with Sheriff’s appointment are entitled to explain why they believe another person would perform the role better. They can challenge his political record. They can question his strategy. They can criticise the APC’s campaign structure,” it said.
“But repeatedly invoking an unproven allegation as though it were a settled fact crosses an important line.”
The group also called for respect for the presumption of innocence, saying the principle should apply regardless of political affiliation.
It argued that anyone accused of wrongdoing should be investigated and, where evidence establishes guilt, face the appropriate consequences.
“But where an investigation does not establish guilt, society should not continue treating the allegation as a permanent conviction,” it said.
The coalition said opponents of President Tinubu were free to campaign against his re-election in 2027 but urged them to focus on issues such as governance, the economy, security and development.
“If Sheriff has been selected to play a role in President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, opponents should challenge the APC on policies, governance, economic performance, security, development and other measurable issues,” it said.
It added that the 2027 election should be about records, ideas, competence and vision rather than the recycling of old allegations.
The group also said the North-East, having suffered greatly from insecurity, needed political leaders who could contribute to stability, development and reconciliation.
It urged Nigerians to assess Sheriff based on his public record, political conduct and present actions.
“The appropriate question should therefore be: What can Ali Modu Sheriff contribute to the campaign and to the political development of the North-East?” it said.
The coalition urged the NRRM to submit any new evidence it might have against Sheriff to the appropriate authorities.
“If there is evidence, present it. If there is none, let the allegation remain what it is — an allegation,” it said.
