I can’t influence process of electing PDP chairman - Makarfi

macfranc007 October 25, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- The efforts made by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to adopt a consensus candidate for the position of national chairman has failed

- Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker committee chairman, appealed for cooperation to make the upcoming convention a success in the overall interest of the party

- Makarfi said he would not be stampeded to take irrational decisions to favour anybody

Efforts by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to adopt a consensus candidate for the position of national chairman have been met with stiff resistance from the eight aspirants in the race.

The Nation reports that those in the race are Chief Olabode George, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Tunde Adeniran, Prince Uche Secondus, Taoheed Adedoja, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Jimi Agbaje and Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja. The convention is slated for December 9.

Chief George, who spoke on behalf of other aspirants after a meeting with Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker committee chairman, said the question of consensus did not come up at the gathering.

George, however, said the meeting was without rancour, adding that all the contestants agreed to pursue their aspirations as a team and that winning is not a matter of life and death.

According to him, the eight aspirants have agreed to play by the rules and that they have made commitments to support any one of them who eventually emerges winner.

The highlight of the day was the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting presided over by Makarfi with six of the party’s governors, National Assembly caucus and other key stakeholders in attendance.

In his opening remarks, Makarfi appealed for cooperation and collective resolve to make the upcoming convention a success in the overall interest of the PDP.

He stressed the need for the party to get it right, saying key decisions and resolutions would be reached on the convention and other pressing issues regarding the unity and progress of the PDP.

Apparently trying to ward off pressure being mounted on him by some interest groups and individuals to get undue leverage in their various aspirations, Makarfi said he would not be stampeded to take irrational decisions to favour anybody.

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The party chairman cautioned aspirants and members mounting such pressure, saying it would be undemocratic to take decisions that are beyond his mandate or exercise powers that the PDP convention did not confer on him.

Makarfi said: “We have no powers beyond the convention and I want to remind all of us, that the only thing the convention did was to zone two positions and as chairman of the caretaker committee, you cannot go beyond that.

“But to assume that the chairman of the caretaker committee would come and exercise powers that he doesn’t have, and start dishing out orders, that will be undemocratic and will have no basis or foundation in our constitution.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the national executive eommittee of PDP confirmed that it's elective convention will hold on Saturday, December 9.

Dayo Adeyeye, the party national caretaker committee publicity secretary, confirmed this on Tuesday, October 24, while addressing journalists after the 76th NEC meeting which held in Abuja.

Nigerians want PDP back in 2019 - Goodluck Jonathan declares at PDP Caucus Meeting - on NAIJ.com TV: