Ali Modu Sheriff, the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Wednesday made his first public outing as leader of the opposition with a promise to take the PDP back to Aso Rock in 2019. He spoke at the thanksgiving ceremony of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State in Umuahia. Sheriff took over from Uche Secondus who has been acting as chairman of the party that lost power to the All Progressives Congress in March 2015 general election.

Sheriff said he was happy to be honoured with the position of Chairman, stressing that his goal was to lead the PDP back to power. He urged the party to work with him to achieve the purpose. According to him, change has not come to Nigerians, “the real change will come when PDP takes back power in 2019”.

The election of Governor Ikpeazu was recently validated by the Supreme Court prompting him to roll out the drums to thank God for what he called “victory for justice, for the people and for democracy”. He thanked the people of Abia State for standing by him during the moment of trial.

The occasion was attended by Governors Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and senior PDP members. Radical evangelist Dr. Uma Ukpai delivered the homily.