Ali Modu Sheriff is a Nigerian politician and the former Governor of Borno State. He thefirst governor to serve Borno State two consecutive terms (2003–2011). He was formerly a member of All Nigeria People’s Party but later joined the All Progressives Congress becoming a founding member of that party.
He was born in 1956 in Ngala Town, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State to business tycoon Galadima Modu Sheriff. He attended Government Secondary School, Bama (1974–1979). He studied Insurance, Banking and Finance at the London School of Business. In 1981, he joined his father’s construction company as a Director, later becoming Managing Director. In 1985, he registered his first company. His companies include Meroil Organisation and Union Chase.
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In 2014, Sheriff switched affiliation to the People’s Democratic Party. He acted as the National Working Committee chair from 16 February 2016 until the National Convention, when he was removed and replaced by Ahmed Makarfi. On the 26th of April 2018 he defected back to All Progressive Congress.
He was elected as a senator from Borno during the Third Nigerian Republic under the banner of NRC, his opponent then was Kolo Kingibe, wife of the SDP chairman, Babagana Kingibe. He was also a member of the Constitutional Conference and chaired the committee on states and local government
Ali Modu Sheriff was elected Senator representing Borno Central on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during General Sani Abacha’s military regime. After democracy was restored, in April 1999 he was again elected Senator, Borno Central on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In 2003, Ali ran for Governor of Borno State on the ANPP platform and won. He was re-elected in 2007 and in both cases, he defeated the PDP candidate Kashim Ibrahim-Imam
In July, 2017 following the verdict from a five man Apex Court, Ali Modu Sheriff was removed as the PDP Chairman and Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi reinstated as the National Chairman of PDP.
He has been accused of being a sponsor to the Islamic sect Boko Haram by an Australian hostage negotiator Stephen Davies.
He is married to Halti Ali Modu Sheriff and their union is blessed with 2 children: Mustapha Sheriff and Halima Modu Sheriff.
