Can't run from Current Directory

[Todd C. Miller]

Sounds like configure was run with --with-ignore-dot.  Try running:
    # sudo -V | grep Ignore

as root, or:
    $ sudo sudo -V | grep Ignore

as non-root.  If you see the line:
    Ignore '.' in $PATH

that means sudo was configured with --with-ignore-dot.
 
 - todd