Party members have right to defect to other political parties - Markarfi

The sacked Chairman, National Caretaker
Committee of the Peoples Democratic
Party , Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has said
members of the party are free to join other
political associations to realise their
political ambition.
He said neither him nor any member of
the caretaker committee had, however ,
joined the proposed Advanced Peoples
Democratic Party .
There have been reports that some
politicians in the Makarfi camp are behind
the move to register the APDP as a rival
political party to the PDP , which is now
under the leadership of Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff.
The party, which has been in a crisis for
more than a year now , has been further
polarised since the Court of Appeal , Port
Harcourt Division , pronounced Sheriff ,
the former governor of Borno State , as
the authentic national chairman of the
PDP.
Though Makarfi had appealed the
judgment , former President Goodluck
Jonathan had stepped into the crisis with
a promise to a find political solution to
the protracted leadership tussle .
With a new political party about to be
registered, which has the resemblance of
the PDP , there are insinuations that one
of the camps may not be sincere with the
proposed deal.
Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna
State , has nevertheless exonerated
himself and members of his committee
from those seeking the registration of the
new political party.
Speaking through the spokesperson for
the caretaker committee, Dayo Adeyeye ,
Makarfi said his committee would not
abandon the PDP for Sheriff.
Adeyeye , a former Minister of State for
Works , said in a statement in Abuja , on
Sunday, that the “ National Caretaker
Committee has no hands in the purported
planned registration of the Advanced
Peoples Democratic Party .”
He added , “ We state clearly and without
ambiguity that the National Caretaker
Committee of the PDP is not, in any way,
involved in the plans to register any party
by the name of APDP or any other party
for that matter.
“ It is unthinkable that the National
Caretaker Committee , which, without any
doubt , enjoys the support of all the
recognised organs of the party, will
contemplate such a move.
“ We, however , acknowledge and
recognise the right of party members to
seek alternative platform to actualise their
political dreams , which is an inalienable
right guaranteed by the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria . ”
Adeyeye stated that the caretaker
committee “ is holding leadership power in
the party in trust for the millions of party”
members, who, he said, instituted the
committee at the national convention.
He said no collective decision had been
taken on what to do with the party,
stressing that if such decision would be
taken , it would be done by party members
at a properly constituted national
convention.
The ex- minister added , “ Whatever
decision that will be taken on the PDP
brand shall be taken by the owners of the
party – the party members – at a properly
constituted national convention , and not
by a few individuals , no matter how
highly – placed.
“ For the records, no decision has been
taken that the PDP should be abandoned
and a new party formed out of the current
structure . At least, no such proposal is
before the National Caretaker Committee
as of this moment.
“ We reiterate our belief that the issues
before the Supreme Court will be resolved
on the side of truth and justice will be
served in the interest of peace .”
In his reaction on Friday , Sheriff said the
party was watching with keen interest the
utterances of the Makarfi group , adding
that it was wrong for any party leader to
be encouraging members of his party to
leave for other parties.
He explained that what was important to
him and members of his national working
committee was how to reconcile all the
PDP members and strengthen the party
ahead of the 2019 elections.
Sheriff , who spoke through the National
Secretary of the party, Prof . Wale Oladipo
, argued that the situation in the party
was not as bad as being portrayed by the
Makarfi group.
He said, “ It is disheartening that they are
asking members or encouraging them to
go and form another party or even join
existing ones.
“ Since we can ’t stop them from
exercising their constitutional rights , they
should not steal the franchise of our
party.
“ Makarfi, as a person , may not be part of
those angling to leave, but he should help
us tell them not to use the name of PDP
in any form .”
Also speaking for Sheriff , his deputy , Dr .
Cairo Ojougboh , said there were facts
that the Makarfi group wanted to clinch
the 2019 presidential ticket of the party at
all costs .
He said, “ They are afraid that they won ’t
be able to get the presidential ticket. They
have inordinate ambition to be the
presidential candidate at all costs.
“ We are not stopping them , but in the
PDP , things must be done properly and
not through the back door . They are
afraid , that ’s why they are running from
pillar to post , seeking to register another
political party with our name. ”
PDP is proud of Obasanjo , says Makarfi
Meanwhile, the national caretaker
committee of the PDP has said the party
is proud of the achievements of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo while in
office.
The Chairman of the sacked committee ,
Makarfi, who stated this in a statement in
Abuja , on Sunday, said the party was
happy that Obasanjo had joined the
league of octogenarians in the country .
Makarfi said Nigerians would continue to
remember Obasanjo ’s style, which, he
said, was unique.
While describing the former President as a
quintessential leader, he stated that the
PDP was proud of his (Obasanjo ’ s )
legacies and achievements.
In the statement, which was signed by
Adeyeye , Makarfi said, “ 80th birthday
anniversary of OBJ , as the former
President is popularly called , is not only
a celebration of his sojourn on earth but a
combination of the series of his
achievements and indelible legacies in
various sectors of our political, economic
and social lives in Nigeria and beyond as
a soldier , Head of State, President and
Commander- in – Chief of the Armed
Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“ For us in the PDP , Obasanjo remains a
leader and a President Nigerians will
continue to remember for his unique style
and quality of leadership, the fulcrum for
his policy formulations and
implementations; and the ingenuity with
which he pioneered the affairs of the
country creditably on the platform of the
our great party, the PDP , from 1999 to
2007 and even after leaving office.
“ We are proud of your heritage , Your
Excellency .”