Former Caretaker
Committee National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator
Ahmed Makarfi has hinted that he is ready for the presidential race.
This was even as he
expressed his intention to pick his party’s presidential nomination form any
time it’s ready for grabs.
Speaking with newsmen
in Kaduna on Sunday, Makarfi remarked that since after he left the office of
National Chairman, he had been consulting with party members across the
country.
He said, “l have been
consulting across the country since I left as the chairman of the party. It’s
just consultations and not endorsement.”
Makarfi who is a
former Senator also added, “But it gives you an opportunity to feel
the pulse and it will tell whether to go forward or not to go forward.
The consultations have
been quite positive and I believe it is fair enough to come to the conclusion
that one should join other equally capable party men and women who have shown
interest in seeking the party’s nomination for the 2019
presidential election.
According to the
former Kaduna state governor, “At this stage, it is to seek for the
party’snomination. The successful nominee will become the candidate
that will stand for the election. But first thing first, if one’s party
does not put him forward, you can’t say you are contesting for presidency yet.
“At this stage, I have
come to the conclusion that it is okay, based on the consultations that
I have had. Those who have shown interest are equally capable.
“We do not know
how many more will show interest but whatever it is, power comes from
God. The party men and women will decide who will be the candidate. I will
subject myself to the will of God and the decision of the party men
and women whenever it is made.
“I have not written to
the party but who do you consult with? It is the same party men and women that
you consult informally.
“One has to come to
the decision to seek for the nomination before you even
seek formally. Everything is stage by stage. What remains now is very soon, I
will start formal visits to the variousorgans of the party and when the
party comes out with the guidelines that in my opinion, will be the
appropriate time to write. Guidelines and timetable for the primaries
have not come out.
“I believe when the
national executive committee of the party approves
the guidelines and timetable for the primaries, that will be
appropriate to formally write to the party.
“It does not mean one
should not or cannot visit the party to inform them now but formal
notification, in my opinion,+ should come when definite timetable
and guidelines for the primaries are released by the party.
Tribun
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