Ex-Minister, Haliru Mohammed, returns as PDP Acting Chairman

The Board of Trustees of Nigeria’s ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed a former acting national Chairman of the party, and ex-defence minister, Haliru Mohammed, as its acting Chairman. Mr. Mohammed’s nomination was endorsed Monday night by the PDP’s BoT at a meeting at the Aso Rock presidential villa, Abuja. Mr. Mohammed emerged against widespread belief that President Goodluck Jonathan would be assuming the position as he leaves office Friday.

Outgone Chairman of the BOT, Tony Anenih, had, while resigning last week, said he was vacating the office to allow Mr. Jonathan to assume the post though he (Jonathan) has turned down the offer.

Mr. Mohammed served as a Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission in 1999, and later as Minister of Communication in 2001 under the Olusegun Obasanjo government. He later on became the National Vice Chairman of the PDP, North West Zone. In March 2008, he became the Deputy National Chairman of the Party and Acting National Chairman in 2010. Mr. Mohammed was appointed defence minister by President Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2012. Mr. Mohammed was named in 2007 by German investigators as one of several Nigerian officials who received bribes from that country’s telecoms company, Siemens.