Makarfi says Dokpesi can become PDP nat’l chair despite zoning

Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday said that it was not an error if members from other zones chose to contest the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), national chairmanship position, even as it has been zoned to South West.

PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, who also defended the decision to reserve the chairmanship slot for the South West zone, explained that it was not meant to deny anybody of his aspiration.

He stated this during his remarks at the inauguration of the convention planning committee of the party in Abuja.

“I recall when we last met here to inaugurate the zoning committee and I mentioned on behalf of the caretaker committee that the convention would be an all-inclusive one and that offices to be contested for would be open to all and sundry, that doesn’t mean people cannot come together to zone offices.

“If zoning does not favour you and you still think that you have the best chance of winning, the political landscape is there. It’s up to you to campaign across the country to get enough delegates to support you. Zoning doesn’t mean you have been excluded, it is meeting of the minds. And it is for every aspirant to assess by himself or herself whether he or she has the capacity to garner more support than collection of people that come together to have a common position.

Read also: PDP Chairmanship: Defiant Dokpesi schemed out, but picks form

“So, I don’t want people to have the impression that they have been excluded from the process. After all democracy is about minority will have their say, majority will have their way. But in PDP, we have the culture of coming together to be one family so that both minority and majority work together for the good of the PDP.”

Makarfi position means that the aspiration of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, from South-South zone is still in order. He was the first to pick his form at the PDP national secretariat on Friday.

The party had earlier announced the nomination fees for the various positions available for contest.

The sum of N1m is to be charged for the position of chairman while N500, 000 will be charged for deputy chairmanship position and national secretary. Other positions would attract a nomination fee of N300, 000.‎

 

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