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| Ahmed Markafi |
Politics
By Toye Faleye
In
an exclusive chat with Nigerian Newslive, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the factional
leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed strong optimism that a
strong opposition political party will soon emerge in one form or the other to
keep All Progressives Congress on its toes.
He
however failed to give any indication whether the strong opposition party will
emerge out of PDP or that an entirely new party will be formed, although Makarfi
had denied dumping PDP for the much-touted new party, following the mediation
process championed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan
and party stalwarts had said the party will devise a political solution to
solving the in-fighting between the factions of both Ali modu Sheriff and
Makarfi. The mediation had agreed that a neutral body will be constituted to
replace the two warring party, the decision which seemed not to please Makarfi.
Makarfi
had inaugurated a 115-Men Committee to review the party’s manifesto, its
constitution and explore ways of possible collaboration with other political
parties in the 2019 general elections. The party which is tagged ‘Strategy
Review and Inter Party Affairs Committee’ was chaired by former Minister of
Information, Professor Jerry Gana.
Recently,
Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt sacked Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker
Committee which enjoys the support of the mainstream of the party and its
organs.
The
Appeal Court by a 2-1 majority affirmed that the party offered its own
constitution in the way and manner it sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led
executive and in disobedience of the court orders against the holding of the
May 21 Port Harcourt convention.
The
court asked that the party should return to the status quo. The decision
followed the earlier judgments by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that
endorsed the actions of the Port Harcourt Convention in enthroning Senator
Makarfi and members of his National Caretaker Committee. The judgment given by
Justice Mohammed Liman also specifically barred Senator Sheriff from parading
himself as the national chairman of the party.
As
a result of this face-off, the political fortunes of the party continued to dwindle.
Besides losing in the just concluded Ondo governorship election, it also lost
in the Edo State governorship election, even as party chieftains across the
country are defecting in droves to the APC.
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