‘I’m Not Excluded’, Makarfi Hints On Presidential Ambition

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker committee, Ahmed Makarfi, says he could join the race for the party’s presidential ticket.

Makarfi made the disclosure in the current edition of The Interview, where he opened up on his next move after steps down as the PDP caretaker committee chairman next week.

“I have heard the rumour (that I am running), it has been there since 2007… I have thought of it. By the time I leave as caretaker committee chairman on 9th or 10th, there’ll still be ten months to the party primaries. By any law or the party’s guidelines, I’m not excluded,” he said.

This is coming hours after former vice-president Atiku Abubakar defected to the PDP, in a bid to run for the party’s presidential ticket in 2018.

Makarfi further stated that, Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose’s declaration of interest in the party’s presidential ticket “is uncalled for and unhealthy” since the party has zoned the ticket to the north.

Fayose was the first member of the PDP to express interest in running for the 2019 presidential election.

Following Atiku’s defection, Makarfi said he expects an influx of people from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“For some strategic reasons, don’t expect a lot of people to move to the PDP now. People are in APC for different reasons. Wait for the time when everybody will be on his own, you will see the influx of people into the PDP,” he said.