Makarfi hopeful on strong opposition

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.

Leave your comment.