THE planned return of the oust former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Modu Sheriff, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) is to cause confusion in the party.

This was the submission of the Borno State Chairman of the ruling party, Ali Bukar Dolori on Thursday while reacting to Sheriff’s alleged return to the APC.

Sheriff was among the founding fathers of the APC until he defected to the PDP in 2014 in controversial circumstances having lost out in the power play at the national secretariat of the ruling party.

His exit accorded the Borno State Governor, Ibrahim Shettima to take over as the leader of the APC in the State.

However, Mr Sheriff’s planned return billed to take place at the National Secretariat is reported to have rattled Mr Shettima who sent Mr Dolori to the party headquarter on Wednesday to convey Shettimma’s disaffection over the development to the party national chairman, Odigie Oyegun.

“We have read news on the Social Media yesterday evening and in some National dailies this morning, that the former Governor of our State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff will be received by our National Chairman today at the Headquarters of our great Party.

“I want to assure you that the news remains rumour because somebody is only trying to fly a kite, that is capable of causing dangerous confusion during the State Congresses in Borno State.

“We are aware of that well-articulated plan and we are ready to defend any attempt towards destroying our Party APC at any level and in any State, not just Borno. We shall conduct our congresses peacefully without any rancor and I assure you nobody can create any faction for our Party in Borno state during the Congresses expected in less than two weeks.”

Quoting provisions of the APC Constitution, Dolori noted that Sheriff can only join the party at the ward level, not at the national secretariat.

“I want also to draw your attention to the relevant section of APC Constitution that deals with eligibility for Membership: Article 9.1 of the APC Constitution (October 2014 and amended):
“Subsection ii; Application for membership shall be made to and cleared by the Ward Executives of the party in the Local Government Area where the person was born, resides, works or originates.

“Online registration shall also be acceptable provided that it is cleared by the National Working Committee of the Party.

Subsection iii; Where an application is refused, the applicant may as of right appeal to the Local Government Area Executive Committee of the Party or to the National Secretary or National Chairman, in case of online registration.

“So, Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I don’t see how the National Chairman can receive any person into the Party when the constitution is clear about the process in that regard.

Also, the National leadership has distanced itself from the aborted visit to the party national secretariat and advised the former PDP factional chairman to seek registration at his ward in Borno State if he seeks to return to the ruling party.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports in some sections of the media that the former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

“While we are aware of such intentions, we wish to restate our earlier position that anyone who wants to join the Party should do so at the ward level. We are happy to welcome new members to our party, but membership cards are not issued at the Party National Secretariat,” its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement.