DAAR Communications chairman and leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Chief Raymond Dokpesi has revealed that former Borno State governor Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was removed as party chairman because of his links to Boko Haram.

Highly controversial, Senator Sheriff, was named as PDP chairman earlier this year but his appointment sparked a wave of protests within the party. In what became a bitter dispute, a faction of the party elected former Kaduna State governor Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as interim chairman in May.

Senator Sheriff has refused to accept the decision, effectively creating two factions within the party. Senator  Sheriff was sacked during the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after which a national caretaker committee under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi was inaugurated.

However, Chief Dokpesi who is also vying for the role of national chairmanship of the party, explained that Senator's Sheriff’s link to Boko Haram was a major reason. He added that the former Borno State governor's had some baggage associated with the dreaded insurgents group, Boko Haram.

Chief Dokpesi added: “Sheriff has a little bit of baggage because from where he came from, he is not supported. Boko Haram is a major reason our son Goodluck Jonathan lost the last presidential election, so there was no need for us to bring somebody associated with Boko Haram to represent us if we wish to reclaim the presidency in 2019."

Despite his removal, the former Borno State governor has continued to insist that he remains the leader of the opposition party, stressing that he will only vacate his office if allowed to select his successor and to organise a new national convention for the party. It appears that the Independent National Electoral Commission has recognised the Senator Makarfi faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP.